June 2 2006

Andy Johnson

Andy Johnson's transfer to Everton was a bitter blow to the Palace faithful. Danny Hayes looks at a few candidates who could fill the void up front.

It will be virtually impossible to replace AJ's goals, but it is his all-round game that will be a loss. His chasing down defenders, lost causes and his presence amongst the Palace side not only to his team-mates but to opposition defenders will be missed.

The new Palace manager will have money to spend on a replacement in what could be the most important year in the club's history with the final Premiership parachute relegation payment, meaning promotion is a must.

But here are some possible targets:

Rob Hulse

Highly regarded at Leeds United, Hulse is thought of as the perfect target man. He had injury troubles last term but still managed 13 goals in a side that struggled for goals and at times was used as a lone figure up front.

There is no doubting he has the technical ability to be a very good striker and has scored plenty of goals at Championship level for both Leeds and Crewe, but whether he could then take the next level up the Premiership is another question.

Hulse would big a good asset for any side in the Championship and could potentially form a prolific partnership with Clinton Morrison.

However Leeds would be very unwilling to let one of their stars go, especially to a promotion rival. But with their parachute payments following relegation to the Premiership set to end this summer, they could be willing to sell at the right price.

Hulse cost in the region of around £1million last summer so Palace would have to bid around £2m to acquire his talents.

Gary McSheffrey

The Coventry starlet had his best season yet last season scoring 15 goals in the league and is right out of the Johnson mould as a striker. He is a forward with pace and great technical ability and has been top scorer for the past three seasons at Coventry and in a struggling side has down so well to score so many goals.

McSheffrey also has the added bonus of being able to operate on the left side of midfield and that could be crucial in a Palace side that has lacked creativity in the past.

Whether McSheffrey could forge a successful partnership with Morrison is debatable but he certainly has the ability to make a name for himself but would more than likely cost in the region of £1.5m to £2m.

Lee Trundle

Without doubt the most technically gifted player in the lower leagues of English football and maybe now could be the time for a club to take a gamble on him. With Swansea losing in the League One play-off final, he could now look to test himself at a higher level.

Having scored 20 league goals last season he was Swansea's top scorer again and once again one of the leading marksmen in the division. Trundle possesses amazing talent and has the ability to score a goal out of nothing is a fantastic attribute that could stand him in good stead in the Championship.

Everton nearly took a gamble on him in the January transfer window only for him to get injured so a move to the Championship now would be the logical step forward for a player approaching his 30th birthday.

It is likely that Trundle would cost over £1m but could certainly be an inspired signing in Palace’s promotion push.

Francis Jeffers

Available on a free transfer, Jeffers has the natural ability to be a success at this level. After bursting on the scene at Everton, Jeffers' career has been on a downward spiral ever since his £10m move to Arsenal. And after failing at Charlton, Jeffers has been released.

Thought of as one of the best goal scoring talents in the country five years ago, Jeffers will be determined to prove his critics wrong and establish himself as a Premiership striker once again by firing the goals to take Palace into the top flight once again.

Jeffers could be a useful asset and on a free transfer and the only stumbling block would be the likely high wages that he would expect, but there is no doubt that Jeffers could prove a useful asset at Palace.

Freddy Eastwood

Eastwood has proven himself a success in the past two seasons leading Southend to successive promotions to the Championship, firing nearly 50 goals in the process. A striker with this natural ability to find the back of the net would surely be able to take the step up to Championship level in his stride.

Eastwood nearly retired four years ago after being released by West Ham but a spell at Grays rekindled his spirit in football and since then he has risen in leaps and bounds in the lower leagues of English football.

Again it is likely that Eastwood would cost in the region of £1m and it would be a gamble paying this much for a player as yet unproven at this level.

Others

Potential targets could be for players that have been released from premiership clubs and two that could be candidates here are Matt Jansen and Jay Bothroyd.

Jansen has already had one successful spell at Palace and enjoyed a good spell at Blackburn before suffering a horrendous motorcycle accident. But a return to Palace could easily rejuvenate his career because he has the ability to score goals for fun at this level.

Alternatively Bothroyd would be a risk after failing to make the grade at Arsenal, he had an unsuccessful spell in Italy before disappointing at Charlton last season.

But a step down could be the making of him as his the natural attributes as a good target man and the ability to score goals. The likely stumbling block would the likely high wages he could demand.