Aston Villa boss Paul Lambert insists Jordan Bowery is still part of his future plans.
The striker is on-loan at Doncaster Rovers.
Lambert told the Birmingham Mail: "It will do him the world of good. I think by everybody's own admission the way Benteke hit the ground running last year, you'd be off your rocker to leave him out really.
"It's hard for anybody to get into that No.9 shirt the way Christian has played.
"That's the idea when you let people go out on loan to give them that game time and to get them used to playing. That's the objective of it.
"I think Jordan done pretty well since he's been out so you're hoping when he comes back he comes back sharp."
