Roy Hodgson targets another forward after Bakary Sako injury in Crystal Palace draw
Tuesday 30 January 2018 23:59, UK
Roy Hodgson has targeted another forward signing before the transfer window closes after seeing Bakary Sako pick up an injury in Crystal Palace's 1-1 draw at West Ham.
Sako limped off in the first half at London Stadium on Tuesday night and could face a long spell on the sidelines, heightening Palace's need for attacking reinforcements - something not lost on Hodgson.
"I will speak to Steve Parish [chairman] and Dougie Freedman [sporting director] to see how their hard work is panning out. At the moment I don't have anything to say at all," Hodgson told Sky Sports.
"Although, it makes it even clearer now that we need to bring someone in, if Bakary (Sako) is out for a long time. Our forward options are really down to the bare bones.
"We won't know until tomorrow [about Sako's injury] but our medical staff are very good, they have an unerring knack of being right with their prognosis and they don't think it looks good at all.
"There is the positivity of getting a point but it's disappointing to pay a high price if Bakary is going to miss a large chunk of the season."
Palace had taken the lead at London Stadium through Christian Benteke in the 24th minute - just the Belgium international's second league goal of the season - before Mark Noble equalised from the penalty spot two minutes before half time to earn an injury-hit West Ham a point.
"We weren't anywhere near as good as I think we can be," Hodgson added. "We played a lot better in the second half. we had better control of the goal.
"The most important thing was Benteke scoring. In the past couple of weeks he has played well, he has been excellent in training, he has been getting in those goalscoring positions. His goal today was a true goalscorer's goal and I am hoping we can get more crosses in for him. If we feed him enough, I am confident he will get the goals."
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