Watford are leading the race to sign Crystal Palace striker Connor Wickham.

Wickham has struggled for game time this season with Christian Benteke and Jordan Ayew both ahead of the former Ipswich man in the pecking order.

It’s thought Roy Hodgson would be willing to let the 26-year-old leave Selhurst Park on-loan next month in order to free up a space in his squad.

Since his arrival from Sunderland in 2015, Wickham has endured an injury plagued career in SE25, making just 38 appearances and scoring seven league goals.

With just two league outings this season and with Hodgson openly admitting that they will be in the market for a forward in January, Wickham’s future looks certain to be away from Selhurst Park.

Watford, who coincidentally Palace travel to on the weekend, have endured a torrid start to the season, and under Javier Gracia, Quique Sanchez Flores and now temporary manager Hayden Mullins, they sit bottom of the league having won just one game this season and still yet to reach double figures in the goals chart.

Clubs in the Championship are also said to be interested in Wickham who had loan spells with Sheffield Wednesday and Leeds United before moving to Crystal Palace.