Crystal Palace striker Connor Wickham has returned to training after a lengthy injury lay-off.

Wickham has not played for the club since suffering a serious knee injury 13 months ago.

But he is set to hand the Eagles a huge boost by reaching full fitness in the next month. Christian Benteke is the club’s only fit striker.

Wickham, 24, took part in a light training session on Tuesday – and his return will add much-needed depth to Palace’s frontline.

Bakary Sako has played as an emergency number nine this season, but is more comfortable out wide.

The Eagles signed Wickham for £7m from Sunderland in 2015, but the ex-Ipswich hitman has endured an injury-plagued time in south London so far.

Palace boss Roy Hodgson is in the market for a striker with Besiktas forward Cenk Tosun heading the list.