Crystal Palace in desperate need of a frontman
Now is not a good time to be a Crystal Palace supporter. Bottom of the Premier League, without a goal, pointless and some would say, clueless, having brought Roy Hodgson in as manager, Crystal Palace now face up to two months without striker Christian Benteke who suffered a knee injury during the weekend’s 5-0 loss to Manchester City.
There would be those who would argue Benteke won’t be missed given their absence of goals but in his defence, he has hardly been provided with a lot of quality ball from a midfield who look more set-up to going backwards than forward.
Anyone who caught some of Crystal Palace’s loss to City would have to admit they were not as bad as their league position suggests but the loss of Benteke would be felt given his ability to hold the ball up.
Hodgson also has the minor problem of having no recognised striker to call on as a replacement for the Belgium international given Connor Wickham is also out injured until January.
His answer has been to sound out former West Ham, Aston Villa, Celtic and Chelsea striker Carlton Cole who has become a free agent after he was released by Indonesian side Persib Bandung last month despite having only joined them in March.
If they are successful in getting Cole then it might help them in their next two Premier League games against Manchester United and Chelsea.
❚ Brighton striker Tomer Hemed will serve a three-match ban after being found guilty of violent conduct during their 1-0 win over Newcastle.
The 30-year-old Israel international, who scored the winner was caught on a video review stomping a Newcastle defender late in the match.
Hemed denied the Football Association charge, which was proven after an independent regulatory commission met.
❚ Prolific striker Diego Costa has completed his move back to Atletico Madrid from Chelsea after a protracted term of negotiation.
The two clubs agreed terms and the 28-year-old Spain international passed his medical on Tuesday.
However, he cannot be registered to play for the La Liga side until January 1 when the club’s transfer ban ends.
Costa scored 59 goals in 120 games appearances for Chelsea.
❚ Manchester United boss Jose Mourinho has been cleared by the Football Association after he was sent from the dug out at Southampton last round.
Referee Craig Pawson showed no mercy towards Mourinho who stepped onto the pitch in stoppage time.
After receiving the referee’s report, the FA decided no additional action was necessary.
Mourinho received two onematch bans from the FA for separate incidents last season.
❚ Football fans with little to do early on Christmas Day might be in for a treat with reports that Arsenal and Liverpool are set to play on Christmas Eve (UK time).
Sky Sport (UK) are apparently keen to have one game televised on its prime Sunday spot and appear really keen on it being between Arsenal and Liverpool.
Weekend fixtures (UK time): Saturday, Huddersfield v Spurs, Bournemouth v Leicester, Manchester United v Crystal Palace, Stoke v Southampton, West Bromwich Albion v Watford, West Ham v Swansea, Chelsea v Manchester City.
Sunday, Arsenal v Brighton, Everton v Burnley, Newcastle v Liverpool.