Crystal Palace transfer news: Eagles boss Roy Hodgson considers old England pal and former Liverpool man Rickie Lambert to solve his striker crisis
DESPERATE Crystal Palace boss Roy Hodgson is considering handing his former England star Rickie Lambert a career lifeline to solve his striker crisis.
The Eagles are bottom of the Premier League without a point or a goal after six matches.
If things were not bad enough for the South London side, last season's top scorer Christian Benteke has now been ruled out for up to two months through injury.
And the Independent claim that has led Palace to investigate the possibility of bringing free agent Lambert to Selhurst Park.
The 35-year-old has been without a club since he was released by Cardiff City earlier this year.
He is currently keeping himself fit in his hometown of Liverpool, but is still some way off being ready for match action.
Palace chairman Steve Parish and sporting director Dougie Freedman are scouring the free agent market to help bolster the injury-hit squad.
They have already made room in their 25-man Premier League squad by freeing up a space and releasing goalkeeper Kleton Perntreou.
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The stopper told South London Press: "I got told by the club officials that they needed to free up a space in the 25 man squad for a new signing that should be coming in the next few days."
After a dramatic rise through the lower leagues Lambert shot to prominence with Southampton following their promotion to the top-flight in 2012.
A series of impressive displays and goals caught the attention of Hodgson, then in charge of England, and he received his first international call-up in August 2013.
Two minutes and 43 seconds after replacing Wayne Rooney for his first cap he scored the winner for the Three Lions against Scotland at Wembley.
A month later he found the net again on his first start for his country against Moldova and was included in Hodgson's World Cup squad the following summer.
Following that tournament he secured a dream move to his boyhood club Liverpool before joining West Brom 12 months later prior to moving to Wales in 2016.
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