COLE COULD GET EAGLES OUT OF HOLE

CRYSTAL PALACE are ready to step up their attempts to land free agent Carlton Cole to solve their striker crisis.

Roy Hodgson has been hit by the loss of Christian Benteke for at least six weeks with a knee injury.

The Belgium hitman had a scan on Monday, after suffering ligament damage in last Saturday’s 5-0 defeat at Manchester City. Connor Wickham is also out injured until January. Palace have no other recognised striker. Hodgson is now considering his options with the Eagles sounding out Cole (above).

Contact is believed to have been made with the ex-Wolves and Aston Villa striker, 33, who was released by Indonesian side Persib Bandung last month. He last played in England two years ago with West Ham.

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