July 30 2004

Neil Shipperley

NEIL SHIPPERLEY will miss the start of Crystal Palace's Premiership campaign.

The big Palace striker had to fly home early from Palace's pre-season tour of Northern Ireland with a knee injury.

He has been told by doctors to rest up for five weeks or miss the whole season by having surgery.

"I had a stark choice. Rest now and be out for about five weeks or have the surgery and say goodbye to the season - and that would have been soul destroying," said SHIPPERLEY.

"It's better to get it out of the way now and get back to help the lads as quickly as I can."

It leaves boss Iain Dowie with just three fit strikers at the club and it's even more important a new forward is signed.