New boys ready for Eagles
Crystal Palace boss Tony Pulis has all his transfer deadline day signings fit and available for selection for Saturday's Barclays Premier League visit of West Brom.
Only goalkeeper Wayne Hennessey was signed in time to make the bench for the 2-0 defeat at Arsenal last Sunday but he is joined in the squad by fellow newcomers Scott Dann, Joe Ledley and Tom Ince for the clash with the Baggies.
Pulis is hoping his January buys can help take the goalscoring burden away from his shot-shy strikeforce.
Neither Marouane Chamakh nor Cameron Jerome have scored for the Eagles in the Barclays Premier League since the turn of the year, with Palace the lowest scorers in the top flight having netted just 15 goals in their 24 league fixtures so far.
By contrast Dann, Ince and Ledley have scored 13 goals between them this campaign and Pulis is hopeful they can add another dimension to his side at Selhurst Park.
"We need to score more goals, full stop," Pulis said.
"But we also need to share the goals more around the team, we are a little bit disappointed that we haven't scored as many goals from set-pieces as well because we have some big lads in the team.
"We have got to contribute all over the pitch, irrespective of who scores, the main thing is that we have the firepower to score from all over the pitch."
New West Brom signing Thievy Bifouma is poised for a place on the bench.
The 21-year-old striker, signed on loan from Spanish side Espanyol, has been given international clearance.
Midfielder James Morrison returns after missing the 1-1 home draw with Liverpool last weekend with a calf injury, but defender Jonas Olsson (hamstring) and strikers Nicolas Anelka (knee) and Stephane Sessegnon (groin) remain sidelined.
With Albion one point and two places above the drop zone, boss Pepe Mel is fully aware of the English expression of a 'must-win game'.
"Crystal Palace will be saying the same," said Mel.
"They know how to play this type of football. It's automatic for them, and for me they play it very, very well.
"When all the players know how to play that way then it's good, and I've seen them play at home and they've done well.
"Their head coach is a good coach in convincing his players to play that way."
Source: PA
