May 14 2003

Matt Clarke

After injury robbed MATT CLARKE of all but six first team games this season, the £1.35million keeper is planning to return for the start of next season and repay the club’s faith in him.

CLARKE, 28, was stretchered off against Burnley in August last year and has endured a nightmare eight months on the sidelines following surgery to repair damaged knee cartilage.

But the former Sheffield Wednesday stopper, signed from Bradford by Steve Bruce in September 2000, has now started his rehabilitation and is targeting a first team return in August.

He told the Croydon Guardian: "Getting injured after six games and having such a nasty injury gets you mentally more than anything.

"But my family and the club have looked after me and I am aiming to be back for the start of the season.

"It’s been eight months since the injury and it’s been a long frustrating time. It’s been a long period out and you feel you owe the club something. I will work hard over the summer so I can repay some of the faith the club put in me."

"I have another two years left after this one and I am looking forward to doing well for Palace for the remainder of my contract."

And in the remaining two years of his contract, CLARKE is hoping to show recapture the kind of form which took him to the verge of the England squad, while playing in the Premiership for Bradford.

And his says Alex Kolinko’s imminent departure when his contract expires, does not mean he will not face a battle to get his number one shirt back.

He said: "It’s going to be hard because somebody else is going to come in and he’s going to want the shirt, so I am going to have to fight for it.

"We will both be starting afresh but it keeps you on your toes as Alex has done when I have been fit."