HODGSON NOD FOR BLITZ OF SIGNINGS

ROY HODGSON has the backing of Crystal Palace’s American co-owners to spend his way out of the club’s worst injury crisis for 20 years.

Eight first-team players are out for today’s visit of Burnley after Andros Towsend and Jeffrey Schlupp joined the injury list in the FA Cup defeat at Brighton last weekend.

Hodgson (above) said then his club were “looking at six or seven” signings.

And after talks with Josh Harris and David Blitzer on their visit to London to watch their Philadelphia 76ers play at the O2, the former England boss said the club’s hierarchy are ready to invest in this transfer window.

“I met them yesterday and I had a long time talking to them and Steve Parish about the future of the club,” he said.

“They are aware of the situation and they want to help. And I am sure they will do their very best to help. It is going to be a busy month, that is for sure. But what actually happens at the end of it in terms of what players arrive here – if any – that is another question altogether.

“Sporting director Dougie Freedman and Steve Parish are working overtime to identify the people to come in and help us. And I am also happy that Josh and David are supporting all of those efforts.”

Palace were already without Scott Dann, Joel Ward, Jason Puncheon, Mamadou Sakho, Connor Wickham and Ruben Loftus-Cheek before this week. And Hodgson said yesterday: “On the bench we are stretched to the limit. We have been badly wounded.

“The last time I had something like this was at Inter Milan and that is going back over 20 years.”

But the Eagles boss claimed he was aware he would have to spend in January when he took over in September.

“We only have two goalkeepers and one out-and-out centre forward,” he said.

“You do not have to be a rocket scientist to work out that isn’t enough and that you need more players in those important areas of the field.”