Christian Benteke has had minor knee surgery but will return to training ‘very soon’, insist Crystal Palace

The Belgium international has made just four appearances this season and is yet to score a goal

Christian Benteke has undergone minor knee surgery but is expected to return to training “very soon”, Crystal Palace have announced.

The 27-year-old striker has made just four appearances this season without scoring, and last featured for Palace in their 2-0 defeat against Southampton in the Premier League on 1 September.

Palace said that surgery was decided upon after “conservative management” had failed to resolve the knee problem, which first presented itself during preseason.

“The club can confirm that Christian Benteke has undergone minor arthroscopic explorative surgery and washout of his knee, as it had not been settling with conservative management,” a statement issued on Palace’s official website said.

“The surgeon was happy with the outcome and we expect Christian to return to training very soon. A further update will be given in a few weeks' time.”

Writing on Twitter, Benteke added: “After discussions with medical staff it was decided minor arthroscopy would be the best way to get me back on the pitch at 100%.

“All has gone well. Now to concentrate on getting back to full health as soon as possible!”

Benteke joined Palace from Liverpool for a club-record fee of £27 million in August 2016 but has struggled to live up to his price tag at Selhurst Park, scoring just 20 goals in 75 appearances in all competitions as he battled fitness and confidence issues.

“Of course the moment may well come when we think, 'Better do something about this',” Palace manager Roy Hodgson said in September when asked if Benteke was at risk of being dropped.

“It depends what your options are, doesn't it? We still consider [Benteke] to be our best option in that position. Had we had other options, maybe we might have considered those too.

“We encourage him as best we can. We encourage him to concentrate hard on the things he can do. We encourage him to realise that it is not just about scoring goals.

“There are other things he needs to do to make us a successful team and get us points. We do all the things any sensible manager and coaching staff would do.”