January 8 2008

Lee Hills

Crystal Palace young guns Lee Hills and SEAN SCANNELL have penned professional contracts.

The 17-year-old Academy pair have penned deals which will keep them at Selhurst Park until 2010.

They are highly rated by manager Neil Warnock and have been reportedly attracting interest from the Premier League vultures.

Left-back Hills made his debut against Watford in October, while winger SCANNELL's first-team break came at QPR last month.

Hills said: "I'm very excited about it all. It gives me stability for the two-and-a-half years I've signed so hopefully I can cement my first team place, get a lot more confidence and experience as I carry on learning the game.

"I want to play the game as much as I can. Most young defenders who play in the first team are around 19 or 20 so I'm grateful to get my chance as young as I am.

"I've known SEAN for a long time and he used to play football with my brother when he was younger. He's a good player and me and him spend a lot of time together."