Crystal Palace will consider signing a free agent to stand in for injured Christian Benteke

Roy Hodgson may try to sign a striker on a free transfer if Christian Benteke’s knee injury is serious.

Benteke was due to have a scan on his right knee today amid fears he suffered ligament damage against City.

The Belgian will miss the United match, meaning they will have no recognised forward at Old Trafford.

Palace failed to sign back-up for Benteke in the summer despite chairman Steve Parish since admitting the club needed cover.

However, Palace can sign a free agent outside the transfer window and have left one space in their 25‑man Premier League squad to allow them to register any potential new arrival.

The Eagles have already drawn up a list of strikers who are out of contract.

Rickie Lambert is a player who is available and who Hodgson knows well. Hodgson gave the former Southampton and Liverpool forward his England debut and took him to the 2016 World Cup.

Lambert has been without a club since he left Cardiff over the summer, but there would be doubts over the fitness of the 35-year-old.

Carlton Cole is also available, but has not played in the Premier League since leaving West Ham in 2015. The 33-year-old has been without a club since last month, when he ended a spell in Indonesia and had a brief stint in America with Sacramento Republic.

Benteke twisted his right knee late on against City and left the Etihad on crutches.

The injury is a major blow to Palace, even if the 26-year-old has struggled for form this season.

Hodgson said: “We think it is a form of ligament damage, but I do not know how bad that damage is. It will mean he will not play in the next game, which we could do without.”

Palace now face the prospect of being without a recognised striker for a period of time.

Connor Wickham is recovering from a serious knee injury and is not expected to be back until next year, while Fraizer Campbell was released in the summer when his contract expired. Palace were in talks to sign Everton striker Oumar Niasse on deadline day but the move broke down.