March 30 2001

Jamie Smith

Defender JAMIE SMITH has had a knee operation which will keep him out of action for the next three weeks. SMITH has been struggling with the knee injury for the past month.

Surgery on SMITH's knee became unavoidable and it was decided to go ahead with the operation knowing that that Fan Zhiyi and Craig Harrison are their way back from injury problems.

The young defender will be out of contract at the end of the season and is still waiting for Palace to offer him a new deal.

Bolton Wanderes are said to be keen on signing him on a free.

Meanwhile, David Hopkin said that he doesn't feel any pressure on him to get The Eagles out of the relegation zone.

The former Scottish international also admitted that it didn't take much to persuade him to make his return to Selhurst Park from Bradford City.

He said: "The move came out of the blue and I didn't need much convincing to come back because I had two great years here.

"But I don't feel under any pressure right now coming back into the situation that we are in. And to be honest I have never felt any pressure.

"I wouldn't have come back here if I thought this club was going to go down.

"I'm positive about things. And I'm encouraged by what I have seen in training."