Grant Holt backing Aston Villa ace Christian Benteke

The veteran Villa striker insists Benteke – who missed a sitter at Manchester United on Saturday – can adapt to the spotlight.

Benteke has struggled to recreate his form but still has 11 goals this term after smashing 23 in his debut season with Villa.

Holt scored 15 goals in his first Premier League season with Norwich before netting eight the year after and believes Benteke will learn to deal with extra attention.

"Because he did what he did last year, the second season is always harder," he said.

"People know a lot more about you. They know what they're going to do, They double up on you a bit more to try to stop you. He'll learn.

"He'll learn from this season. I'm sure he'll keep performing the way he is. He's got a World Cup coming up in the summer that he's looking to get to and he'll come back again next season.

"You don't really learn when you're scoring goals week in, week out. It's when it's a little bit harder and you've got to find and suss ways out to break teams down."

Holt was brought in to add experience to Villa and has tried to help Benteke become a better all-round player.

"What I do try to do is to coach him in different areas and different situations," he said.

"I try to tell him that sometimes I think he can drop in different areas to save himself a little bit of running and things like that.

"I don't think you can teach him to go and win headers. He's got his own style and all different people have. But it's about using to learn that youthfulness that he's got.

"Christian likes to come in, take it down, have a little touch and bring people in. But what he has learned and what I have tried to tell him is about doing more things defensively.

"He can drop into little holes for the team to save himself a lot of running and save himself energy."