Aston Villa's Grant Holt ready to fill in for Christian Benteke

Grant Holt today vowed he will prove his worth as Christian Benteke's Villa replacement.

The striker bagged his first goal for the claret and blues in Saturday's 2-1 defeat by Fulham after being charged with filling the boots of Belgium ace Benteke.

Villa's 11-goal top scorer was ruled out of the World Cup after rupturing his Achilles last week and is unlikely to play again much before Christmas. Holt knows he has to convince the doubters but will look to lighten the load of losing Benteke.

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"When someone does what he does they are always big boots," said the on-loan Wigan man. "I'll just play the game the way I do and everyone else can make their own mind up.

"Some will say I played well on Saturday and others will say I didn't.

The only thing which bothers me is what the other 10 people on the team with me think."

Benteke is sidelined for at least six months after suffering the freak injury in training on Thursday. He will have an operation and recover with his family before returning to Bodymoor for rehab. It shattered his World Cup dream with Belgium an outside tip for glory in Brazil as they bid to become the first European nation to win the tournament in South America.