November 19 2004

Darren Powell

DARREN POWELL has joined West Ham United on a month's loan.

The centre-half has yet to make a Premiership appearance for the Eagles but featured in three Carling Cup ties.

POWELL, 28, has seen much of his Palace career blighted with injury and was close to joining Reading in March.

Last season he was out for months with a thigh strain and he missed the start of this campaign with a fractured cheek bone.

But he's fit again and scored for the reserves in the 1-1 draw at home to Norwich on Tuesday night and Hammers boss Alan Pardew is delighted to get his man.

Pardew said: "You need a big centre-half in this division and DARREN at 6ft 3in is certainly that. He's a real warrior, another player with a lot of character, and hopefully we can complete his signing.

"I know him from my early days at Reading, and I even played Sunday League football with him towards the end of my career. Although, he's suffered with injuries DARREN is now fit again, and if he joins I'm confident he'll do a very good job for West Ham United."