Crystal Palace boss Roy Hodgson has insisted that he is not looking to sign Carlton Cole on a free transfer.

After Christian Benteke was ruled out for at least six weeks with a knee injury, Hodgson is assessing his options ahead of signing a new striker who is out of contract.

Both Cole and Rickie Lambert have been linked with a move to Selhurst Park, but Hodgson has rejected claims that former West Ham United striker Cole is on his radar.

Hodgson is quoted by the Croydon Advertiser as saying: "Not to me, he hasn't been mentioned. We have got a sporting director, Dougie Freedman, who is doing a remarkable job. [Freedman] is working unbelievably hard to turn over every particular stone to hopefully find something under the stone.

"Now whether he has actually spoken or thought about Carlton Cole, I can't answer that. But I would doubt it, because I think he would have mentioned it to me."

Palace face Manchester United at Old Trafford on Saturday afternoon having not registered a point or goal in the Premier League this season.