Crystal Palace are to include Christian Benteke’s younger brother, Jonathan, in their squad for Saturday’s trip to Middlesbrough, with the forward having moved up the pecking order at Selhurst Park after Loïc Rémy succumbed to injury.

While Palace paid a club record £27m to secure Christian Benteke from Liverpool this summer, his 21-year-old sibling joined for a nominal fee from the Belgian club Zulte Waregem, for whom he had scored twice in 21 league matches. The presumption was he would link up with the development squad and continue his progress in youth football, but the torn thigh that has ruled Rémy out for up to two months has left Alan Pardew short in attacking options.

Crystal Palace’s Loïc Rémy out for up to two months after fresh injury blow Read more

The younger Benteke will therefore travel to Teesside hoping to enjoy some involvement in the first team as Palace, who also have Connor Wickham and Kwesi Appiah available up front, seek a first win of the season. “He is a young striker with natural talent, and they are not easy to find,” Pardew said. “This one was because of Christian, really. He highlighted him to us.

“We checked him out and liked the look of him. It was not a big fee so he comes here under no pressure. He is not up to his brother’s level yet, he would readily admit that, because Christian is a top-line player. But Jonathan is very enthusiastic and has settled in very well. Hopefully, he might surprise one or two.”

Palace will be without Yohan Cabaye at Boro as the Frenchman continues his recovery from a groin injury that ruled him out of the France squad over the recent international window. James McArthur and Bakary Sako will also need to be checked before the game at the Riverside stadium, while Mathieu Flamini, signed this week on a free transfer, has lacked game-time over pre-season. “Physically, Mathieu is ready,” Pardew said. “He is very fit but whether he is up to game speed, I do not know. I am going to take him because his knowledge, and having him around, will be like having another coach.”

Rémy will undergo treatment back at Chelsea on his thigh tear before rejoining Palace as he approaches fitness. “It is a tear in his thigh in an area where recovery is difficult, affecting his shooting,” Pardew said. “We have to be careful with him. We are so disappointed because he’d looked great, and it was a very innocuous moment on the training ground. Sadly that happens. Fortunately we have enough cover to cope without him for this period.”