Hodgson: We haven’t had a renowned scorer, it’s something we must put right

Roy Hodgson (photo: Richard Blaxall)

Crystal Palace manager Roy Hodgson hopes a new striker in January can solve the team’s scoring crisis.

Palace have struggled to find the net again this season with just four goals from their first six league games.

The club’s big-money striker Christian Benteke has no goals and continues to struggle, missing a glorious chance to score against Wolves last time out.

For now Hodgson knows that goals will have to come from other areas of the team until the winter transfer window re-opens.

He told reporters: “Everybody who watches us regularly or knows the club well enough understands that because, apart from a brief period where we had [Michy] Batshuayi on loan, we haven’t really had someone who is a renowned goalscorer in the team.

“It’s something I’m sure we’re looking to put right at some stage at the earliest opportunity.

“But at the moment it’s not going to be easy to do that and we’re going to have to work hard for our goals as a team.”

Palace come up against a Norwich side at Selhurst Park that has yet to win away this term but marksman Teemu Pukki is in fine form with six goals so far.

“I expect to play against a very good team,” said Hodgson. “We’ve been studying them this week to help prepare our players in the best possible way.

“It’s a team game, you don’t nullify [Pukki] by hoping one individual in our team can nullify him as an individual in the other team.

“You make certain that you try to deny him the passes that he will need to score the goals and our players who will be in the area in which he plays are aware of how he plays.

“What type of runs he makes and what he’s looking to do so they’re aren’t caught on the hop by not realising what he is capable of.”

Eagles centre half Mamadou Sakho is a doubt after picking up a slight strain and will be assessed on the day of the game. Striker Connor Wickham (ankle) is back in training after recovering from a knock but is not match fit.

1 Comment

  1. I’m really very tired of hearing that Palace need a recognised striker or two. Is there anyone in the world who doesn’t know that yet Roy remains, as usual, diplomatic, but I’m sure if he was entirely honest, he’d agree that the Club has failed miserably for more transfer windows than I can remember. The concern over Benteke and Wickham is well documented, whilst the jury is still out on Ayew until further into this season.

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