The January transfer window is already on Roy Hodgson’s mind as he looks to strengthen his Crystal Palace side.

Similar to the summer, top of his wish list will be a forward.

Despite being linked with a number of strikers all summer, making Jordan Ayew’s loan signing permanent was the only arrival in the attacking third, underwhelming many.

In defence, an area where Palace looked strong last season, they added free agent Gary Cahill to their ranks.

Despite eyebrows being raised by his signing, the former Chelsea man has fitted in seamlessly and gives Hodgson options at the back, a luxury he wishes he had up front.

"It's a great pity we don't have that luxury and amount of choice [that we do at the back] in other areas because it would help us enormously had we had that," Hodgson said.

"But that is something I'm hoping, from the club's point of view, can be put right in the January transfer window.

"If we are talking about centre-backs, we have five of them and all five of them are exceptionally good and today Scott Dann and James Tomkins were on the bench (against Norwich).

Mamadou Sakho is injured, but hopefully it is not an injury which will keep him out for months, so we're very fortunate in that area.

"Of course there are areas of our team where the competition for places and ability I have to replace injured players is a lot more hazardous."

With Christian Benteke yet to hit anywhere near the heights expected, and the injury-prone Connor Wickham out of favour, Ayew has been the first choice forward.

With just two goals to his name this season Hodgson knows he probably doesn’t posses the goal threat of an elite striker.

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One name who has been mentioned in Selhurst Park circles to solve their striking issues is that of Brentford’s Ollie Watkins.

The 23-year-old winger has been converted into a centre forward at Griffin Park this season, with great success.

A hat-trick of headers at Barnsley on Sunday took his tally to seven goals in nine games.

Palace reportedly saw an £11million bid for Watkins rejected in the summer with the Bees reluctant to lose another key cog in their machine after seeing Neal Maupay depart for Brighton in a £16million move.

Watkins’ transformation into a lethal finisher will have clubs from the top flight interested when the window opens in January, but Brentford will look to get closer to £20million before they consider selling their talisman.