March 7 2003

Selhurst Park

Crystal Palace have swooped to sign Middlesborough striker NOEL WHELAN on loan until the end of the season.

Palace are in desperate need of a goalscorer and Trevor Francis believes WHELAN will help push his side into the play-offs.

The Eagles have scored a paltry five times in the last eight games.

WHELAN has failed to make an impact at Boro since his £2.2m move from Coventry in 2000, where has started just 33 games, scoring 10 goals.

Nevertheless, he has a good scoring record at previous clubs and no doubt given a good run in a team and with the drop in division, he's bound to score goals.

He will travel up to Bradford with the Palace squad tomorrow and is set to partner the returning Dougie Freedman up front.

Francis this week failed in his attempt to take Sunderland striker Marcus Stewart on loan.