March 18 2005

Neil Shipperley

Neil Shipperley has revealed that he will be "gutted" if he misses out on the opportunity to face his former club Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on Saturday, by Stuart Pink.

The 30-year-old striker is available for selection after struggling with a knee problem that ruled him out for the first half of the season, but has since found it hard to force his way back into the reckoning.

The play-off hero admitted that missing out on a return to Stamford Bridge, where he made his professional debut in a three-year spell, will be another disappointment in a season which hasn't gone as well as he had hoped.

Shipperley said: "I haven't played there for a few years, but Chelsea have played a big part in my football career so it would be a special game for me.

"It's just a personal thing, if I could get there it would be a nice game to be involved in."

"But the season has not gone as I planned. I got myself fit have but not been able to force my way in.

"I've played in total 40 minutes, the last time I played was at Manchester City and I can't really prove myself in 40 minutes."

Even if he doesn't feature, the former Wimbledon and Nottingham Forest striker will still go along and support his side and has backed the Eagles to get a surprise result.

Shipperley said: "We have to give Chelsea a lot of respect, not too much though, because it's not a fluke they're top of the league.

"But we're a tight unit and in a positive frame of mind at the moment, so I think we're capable of causing an upset and getting a point to surprise everyone."

Despite rarely featuring this campaign, Palace boss Iain Dowie was still keen to keep the frontman in the first team picture over the transfer window, as some clubs did enquire about Shipperley's services.

Shipperley admits that he will now wait until the end of the season before making a decision on his future.

But he still feels he can make an impact at Premiership level which he hopes to prove, if given the chance, in Palace's remaining nine games.

Shipperley added: "I still feel I can do a job at the club and have the ability to perform at this level.

"I hope to still play a part this season, so I've got to keep training hard and play well in the reserves, then hopefully I'll get a chance."

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