Eagles supremo Ian Holloway has admitted his strikeforce is struggling without absent friends after the Capital One Cup defeat at Bristol City.
While the Eagles defence is yet to be seriously bolstered in the transfer window - save for the free transfer of Florian Marange from Bordeaux - Holloway is more concerned with his attacking options.
He said: "The main thing for me is that we've lost two of our main players, who were really important for us last year, in Glenn Murray with his injury and Wilf.
"You add the new lad I bought in, Jerome Thomas, and Yannick Bolasie to the injury list and we aren't quite the same. It makes a huge difference."
Palace host Sunderland, who came from behind to beat League One MK Dons 4-2 in last night's second round games, this weekend.
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