Christian Benteke is a doubt for Crystal Palace’s Premier League trip to Bournemouth after suffering a groin injury in training on Thursday.
The Belgium striker had retained his place in the side despite a significant lack of goals this season, with manager Roy Hodgson’s attacking options severely limited due to injuries.
In last week’s 2-1 defeat by Liverpool Benteke wasted two fine chances while the score remained 1-1, but when Alexander Sorloth and Connor Wickham have already been ruled out, Palace could struggle without him and are relying on a positive outcome to a late fitness test.
Hodgson was without 12 senior injured players earlier this season but the recent returns of Wilfried Zaha, Ruben Loftus-Cheek, Yohan Cabaye and Mamadou Sakho had significantly strengthened his hand.
Hodgson, who was forced to select Zaha and Andros Townsend as an unorthodox front two when Benteke was injured in September, said on Thursday: “Benteke limped off the training field feeling his groin. We won’t know how well he is until the night passes and he comes in and is assessed again (on Friday).
“The squad which was already thin on the ground has possibly become thinner if Benteke doesn’t make it. I asked the doctor to rate his chances and he’s not prepared to.
“It’s not just a question of injury problems: we don’t have any forwards. Even with Benteke fit we only have three forwards, and Sorloth is still injured.
“Whatever happens we don’t have players in that area – we haven’t had players in that area since the start of the season – and the injury to Sorloth hasn’t improved that.
“We have been content with the way Benteke has been going about his work. He has been doing his level best to bring as many qualities as a centre-forward that he can. We try to make certain we encourage him to keep working as hard as he’s been working for the team.
“We’re hoping that one day the chances that are being created and that come his way he’ll convert. He’s done it in the past and there’s no reason to believe he can’t in the future.”
The former England coach expects central defender James Tomkins to return to his starting XI on Saturday, when three points would leave Palace in a strong position to secure their Premier League status during what looks to be a kind run-in.