INJURIES FORCE COPPELL INTO THE MARKET
**************************************

PALACE'S bid to bring Celtic striker Tommy Johnson on loan ran into
trouble with the English and Scottish FAs yesterday (Thursday).

Steve Coppell agreed with Celtic general manager Jock Brown on
Wednesday to take ex-Derby and Villa man Johnson for a six-week
period. But both FAs insisted the deal could only be for three
months, which would leave Johnson with Palace until after the March
transfer deadline. That and Palace's dreadful injury crisis has left
the way open for 19-year-old Marcus Bent to make a surprise debut in
the key relegation clash against Everton Saturday. 

Bent was bought from Brentford, in a deal which could be worth 
300,000, on Wednesday.  He was signed as a 16-year-old for the West 
London club by current Palace youth boss Peter Nicholas. 

Coppell said Palace had watched the player several times before
making their move and are aiming to use him in a central striking
role. 

Bent himself is confident he can make the step up from reserve
football at Brentford to the Premiership and wants to face Everton.
He impressed in the Bees side which led the Second Division for much
of last term.  But this season he has been in and out of the side and
was on the transfer list at his own request. 

Bent was also reported to be a Wimbledon target earlier in the
season. He has been bought partly with an eye to the future but any
contribution he could make amidst the current injury crisis would be
a distinct bonus for the Eagles. More

Coppell was forced to move into the transfer market when it was
confirmed on Monday that Paul Warhurst had suffered a stress fracture
of the leg in Saturday's cup victory over Scunthorpe. Warhurst went
off at half time and is now expected to be out for at least six
weeks.  Although he has been playing in defence he had a prolific
goalscoring record while with Sheffield Wednesday.

And Shipperley is also rated as extremely doubtful for the Everton
match.  He is still struggling to get over a groin injury.

Swede Thomas Brolin arrived for training as scheduled this week, but
his lack of match fitness left Coppell with extremely limited options
for this key clash.

The Italian pair Attilio Lombardo and Michele Padavano have also
been training this week, but are rated as very doubtful for Saturday.

Of the pair, Lombardo is reckoned to be nearer fitness than Padavano
and could be in line to return in another key relegation game at
Barnsley on January 17. 

In what really is a desperate injury situation for Coppell to cope
with, there is better news on winger Bruce Dyer.  Although he has
been struggling with a long-term ankle injury, Dyer is expected to
again make the line-up for Saturday. But Coppell dismissed
speculation of a bid for Coventry's Dion Dublin, putting the story
down to press speculation. And if all this wasn't enough to cope
with, the Eagles had to train at Street Court in Godstone because
their Mitcham base was flooded. More

EVERTON FILE
************

NEW signing Mickail Nadar is set for his Everton debut at Selhurst
tomorrow (Saturday).  Nadar, a French international striker, has
joined from Portuguese side Deportivo La Corona on a free transfer.
He will partner Duncan Ferguson, whose hat-trick brought Everton a
pre-Christmas victory over Bolton. And the Everton defence is likely
to be strengthened by the return of Slaven Bilic and Craig Short.
Bilic has been suspended while Short has had a hamstring injury.

Also travelling with the squad is midfielder Gary Speed. 

Everton's last five results: Newcastle (H) FAC3, LO-1; Bolton (H)
W3-2; Man United (A) LO-2; Leicester A) Wl-0; Wimbledon (H) DO-0.



SKIPPING THE HOMEWORK MADE ZOHAR DEAL AN EXPENSIVE ERROR
********************************************************

HE'S physically perfect, six feet two inches, two-footed, and widely
experienced.  Itzik Zohar looked a snip at 1.2 million so why was he 
a complete waste of money? 

The answer is that, despite the Israel's impressive credentials,
Steve Coppell did not do all his homework on the player. 

Zohar was signed on the strength of one friendly during Palace's
pre-season tour in Finland and video evidence.  The Palace manager
holds his hand up and admits he was too hasty and that the
27-year-old midfielder was one of his worst signings. Zohar just
couldn't be motivated. He is a big star in his homeland, captain of
the national team. Games revolved around him so that he could be the
play-maker.
 
Coming to Palace's uninviting Mitcham training ground was something of
a cultural shock. 

    "I thought he would give us something different. At that time we
    had only really signed Kevin Miller and we were staring the
    Premiership programme in the face:' says Coppell. 

But he knew he had made a terrible mistake within weeks.  

    "He said he was ready to play in the first team, but I told him
    he had to get fully fit and train harder. I'm afraid there was
    never really a glimmer of light:" he added.

Zohar knew he was good and was credited with being the best passer
in the squad.  But when it came to winning the hall, he just didn't
want to know.

He made only two Premiership starts, and another four times as sub,
for the Eagles. The last, of course, was that ill- fated penalty
against Southampton. 

With no one else apparently wanting to take it, Zohar took the ball;
only to give Saints keeper Paul Jones the easiest penalty he has ever
had to face. However, on this point Coppell will not admit he was
wrong.  

    "If the penalty was taken again, I would still not have objected
    to Itzik taking it, because he is a very good  striker of the
    ball," be adds.

Zohar was shell-shocked and, although no one had a go at him in the
dressing room afterwards, he just wanted to get as far away from the
club as possible. 

Coppell had, in fact, agreed to let him have a three-day break after
the match at Blackburn.  But after the penalty miss, Zohar was
allowed to go earlier. 

It was as much as a surprise to Coppell as anyone else when reports
came in that Zohar had played for Maccabi Haifa in a friendly.
Coppell adds: 

    "Before he went I said to him, 'Let's start again; come back
    with a smile on your face'.  But when I heard that he was playing
    back in Israel I knew that was the end."

An agent suggested a six-month loan period, with Palace paying wages
for three of those months. But with the danger of his work permit
being torn up after his first season - permits require players to
Play in 70 per cent of club matches . Coppell decided, with chairman
Ron Noades' full approval, that they should cut their losses and
release him.  

    "It was in the best interests of the club" said Coppell. 

Which leaves one burning question: Who takes the next penalty?  In
all probability Bruce Dyer, but Coppell has no intention of holding
him to it.

The Palace boss has only once stepped in and changed the penalty
taker. It was at Ipswich, recalls Coppell.  John Salako wanted to
take it, but Coppell got a message on to the pitch and directed
Gareth Southgate to take the kick.  He hit the post and Palace
dropped valuable points.  

    "I shall never forget Salako raging at me, saying he should have
    taken it:' said Coppell. 

Although he has come under fire for letting Zohar take the one
against Southampton, Coppell will tell you all the top coaches say
that the penalty taker should be the player most comfortable in that
situation.

COMFORTS OF HOME CAN LIFT CUP HOPES
***********************************

HOME advantage in the FA Cup fourth round against Leicester has 
pleased Palace boss Steve Coppell. 

Coppell believes his side's poor Premiership form at Selhurst Park
will be irrelevant in the cup tie on January 24, he said: 

    "Despite our league form this year I was very happy with the
    home draw. Cup games are a lot different and when you see those
    twin towers in the distance there is an extra edge. 

    'It is also different from the week-to-week rigours of
    Premiership football." 

But Leicester have a strong spirit which has earned them a league
position not warranted by their ability. They earned a 1-1 draw with
the Eagles in the Premiership at Filbert Street on December 6 thanks
to a last minute equaliser from Muzzy Izzet. 

Palace showed their fighting qualities in that game after the
controversial dismissal of of Marc Edworthy.

Although disappointed by his side's display against Scunthorpe,
Coppell believes it has no long-term relevance.

He said: 

    "The object of the game was to get through.  By the time the
    next round comes it will have been forgotten how poor we were
    against Scunthorpe." 

FOUR Palace Juniors' South East Counties First Division matches have
still to be arranged this season.

Saturday's scheduled home match against Charlton Athletic was
postponed due to a waterlogged Mitcham pitch.  The home game against
Millwall and away matches at Gillingham and Leyton Orient remain to
be fixed.

Peter Nicholas's Palace youngsters visit Leeds United tomorrow
(Saturday, 2 pm) in The Times FA Youth Cup third round.  Palace's
second-string boys have the morning off due to their seniors' rematch
of last season's two-legged FA Youth Cup Final which Leeds won.

STEVE Kember's Palace Reserves' scheduled game at Brighton and Hove
Albion was postponed on Monday due to a waterlogged Worthing pitch.

Eagles' second-string host Charlton Reserves at Plough Lane on
Tuesday (2 pm), with their Surrey Senior Cup second round clash at
Kember's former club Whyteleafe being switched to next Thursday
(7.30 pm). More

TOUCH OF ICELANDIC FLAIR POINTS THE WAY TO AVOID CUP HUMBLING
*************************************************************

Palace 2 Scunthorpe United 0 

Report by Paul Fernandes

LONG-SUFFERING Palace fans have had little cause to jump to their feet
in anticipation of a goal in the last few weeks.  But one player who
has unfailingly set matches alight for them is Icelandic international
Hermann Hreidarsson. 

In almost every match he has played recently, Hreidarsson has
abandoned the game plan and made solo upfield runs in a bid to open
his scoring account for the Eagles.  Every such run has been greeted
with roars of anticipation.  For he has gone close each time. 

Hreidarsson usually saves this part of his repertoire for late in the
match.  And although he did not get on the scoresheet on Saturday he
at least had the satisfaction of knowing he had created the second
goal which finally ended Third Division Scunthorpe's brave attempts
to outgun their Premiership opponents in this FA Cup third-round tie.
And the goal came from one of his now famous dashes upfield.

With three minutes left and Scunthorpe looking more than likely to
equalise Palace's first-half goal, Hreidarsson broke up a visiting
move on the centre line and avoided one challenge after another as
he charged towards goal. Then, noticing Neil Emblen in support, he
slipped the ball to the attacker who beat Scunthorpe goalkeeper Tim
Clarke with a powerful shot.

And the way Hreidarsson celebrated the goal you would have thought
he had scored it himself.  Which he all but did. His display was one
of the few high-lights of a below-par Eagles performance described by
coach Ray Lewington as "the worst I have seen since I came to the
Palace." It was a sentiment echoed by manager Steve Coppell who
admitted: 

    "We were not good enough to win and I feel sorry for Scunthorpe.
     We owe our win to good fortune more than anything else. "I had
    hoped that playing our first match of the year, we would take the
    opportunity to start afresh, especially after not having won in
    December.  "But we Played a lot more poorly than the conditions
    merited." 

Jamie Forrester was convinced he had equalised midway into the second
half when he ghosted in at the far post to beat Miller.  But referee
M Gallagher disallowed it for offside. 

Palace went ahead against the run of play three minutes before the
break.  Skipper Andy Roberts' cross found Emblen on the edge of the
box. His low drive gave the diving Clark no chance.  

Earlier, back-from-suspension Marc Edworthy drifted a free kick, just
wide of a post. 

Undeterred, Scunthorpe kept up the pressure in the second half and
Miller did well to hurl himself at the feet of Forrester to prevent a
certain goal.  And Palace continued to lead a charmed life in defence
as the visitors refused to give up. 

But Emblem's second goal, thanks to Hreidarsson's inspirational run,
finally ended their bid for cup glory.  Palace fans sportingly
applauded Scunthorpe off the match as a mark of tribute to the
visitors' untiring efforts from start to finish.

Here is all the latest web news from Alan Johnston.........

BENT SET FOR DEBUT
******************

Marcus Bent is expected to make his Eagles debut against Everton at
Selhurst Park tomorrow afternoon. 

Bent was signed from Brentford on Wednesday afternoon and completed
the medical formalities allowing Steve Coppell the choice of
thrusting him straight into the thick of things against Everton and
given the massive injury list at Palace, Coppell doesn't have too
many other options. 

The injury list at Selhurst Park at the moment includes Paul Warhurst
(fractured leg), Michele Padovano (hamstring) and Neil Shipperley
(groin). 

Bruce Dyer is expected to shake off an ankle injury which has
troubled him for the past few weeks. Coppell still harbours worries
about the fitness of Jamie Smith who has a sore ankle and he will
have to take a late fitness test before a decision can be taken as to
whether he can take part in the match.

COPPELL ANNOYED AT MIX-UP
*************************
Celtic and Crystal Palace were locked in a transfer row last night
after the collapse of Tommy Johnson's proposed loan move to Selhurst
Park. 

Palace were desperate to sign the former Villa star for a six
week period and Coppell spent all Thursday thrashing out the financial
terms of the agreement. 

However, in a bizarre revelation it was claimed that Celtic blocked
the move after discovering that there was a FIFA regulation that
prevented a player moving from one country to another on loan for
less than a three month period. 

An angry Coppell said: 

    "I spent practically a full day in talks with Celtic and we
    finally came to an arrangement that would have meant Tommy joined
    us for six weeks. "We have now discovered the rules dictate that
    he must come here for three months which would take us past the
    English transfer deadline and therefore there are obvious
    complications." 


YOUTH TEAM IN ACTION
********************

The Eagles youth team are in action on Saturday afternoon when they
travel to Leeds United in the FA Youth Cup. It will be an ideal
chance for Peter Nicholas' side to gain revenge for their Cup Final
defeat at the hands of Leeds last season. 

Nicholas will take a near full strength squad to Yorkshire for the
game but will give Andrew Martin a late fitness test. 

Martin injured his ankle recently but Nicholas is hoping he will be
fit for the game. Assistant boss Geoff Taylor said: 

    "Leeds have got six of the team who beat us in the Final still
    in their side so it's obviously going to be a very tough test.
    "But these games are great opportunities for some of the younger
    lads to come in and see how they are going to cope."

INJURY LATEST
*************

The Eagles are hoping that Italian duo Attilio Lombardo and Michele
Padovano will be fit to face Barnsley next weekend. The pair
returned from Italy last weekend after having treatment on knee and
hamstring problems. 

They have been training with the rest of the Eagles squad all week
and have reportedly suffered no reaction to their respective
problems. 

Coppell has accepted that they will not be available for the Everton
encounter but hopes they will be able to make the trip to Oakwell in
a weeks time. There is the possibility that they will be given a run
out in next weeks reserve team encounter with Charlton Athletic to
fine tune their match sharpness before returning to senior duty
against the Premiership's basement boys.

Alan Johnston.
-------------------------------------------------------