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Evening Standard
Evening Standard
Sport
Matt Verri

Roy Hodgson calls for Crystal Palace to strengthen in January transfer window to aid 'depleted' squad

Roy Hodgson has called for Crystal Palace to be active in the January transfer window and strengthen a "seriously depleted" squad.

The Eagles boss has come under pressure in recent weeks, with Palace fans particularly making their frustrations known after a tame defeat to Bournemouth at Selhurst Park.

While Palace were improved when falling to a cruel defeat against Liverpool last weekend, Hodgson's side have picked up just two wins in 12 Premier League matches, leaving them 15th in the table and seven points off the relegation zone.

Injuries have hampered Palace this season, with Michael Olise only able to make three League starts and Eberechi Eze is currently on the sidelines for a second spell after picking up an ankle issue earlier this month.

Odsonne Edouard, Cheick Doucoure and Sam Johnstone are among those also unavailable, with Hodgson revealing that there are likely to be four academy players on the bench when Palace travel to face Manchester City on Saturday.

Sam Johnstone has added to the club's injury woes (AP Photo/Kin Cheung)

It's no surprise therefore that the Palace boss is keen to see the club bolster options when the transfer window opens next month.

“All clubs have a very strong department in terms of recruitment and scouting, and so it seems to me that's an ongoing process," Hodgson said.

“Sometimes [that] gets accelerated at a time if a club finds itself in a position where there are a lot of players that perhaps have got to be replaced for one reason or another and, as a result, the jeopardy becomes a bit stronger because you suddenly start to realise that our squad has been seriously depleted and in order to get back up the strength we have to do something about it.

“I would think perhaps we are in that position a bit more than some other clubs. But in terms of the work that goes on behind the scenes, which is orchestrated by Doug Freedman, and lots of people are scouting, and by Steve Parish himself, that's definitely an ongoing process.

“I know that the people in that position would like in January to provide some sort of reinforcements because they've seen how the squad has been depleted."

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