March 9 2006

Sandor Torghelle

Crystal Palace director of football Bob Dowie has quashed speculation linking on-loan striker Sandor Torghelle with an early return to Selhurst Park, by Stuart Pink.

National reports last week indicated that the Hungarian international was set to return to the Eagles after Greek side Panathinakos decided they would not follow up their interest in the player once his season-long loan spell ended in May.

But Bob Dowie insisted Torghelle will remain in Greece for the remainder of the campaign and talks surrounding a permanent deal have yet to begin.

He said: "News of him returning to us now is absolute rubbish. We have heard nothing and I expect him to stay there until the end of the season.

"We haven't even got to the stage where we could talk about doing a deal."

Torghelle joined the Greek side in the summer, but similar to last season at Selhurst Park, the Hungarian has struggled to make an impact and has failed to hit the target in only nine league starts.

The 23-year-old has missed part of the season through injury but has little time to impress to earn a permanent move as the Greek side have only eight league games to play until the end of the campaign.

Meanwhile Bob Dowie has indicated Watford head the chase for non-league goal machine Jermaine Beckford.

The Wealdstone striker trained with the Eagles two weeks ago and the Dowie brothers are keen to see the 20-year-old in action again before they decide whether to make a bid. But Bob Dowie feels time may be running out.

He said: "Watford are favourites to sign him. We were going to play him against Arsenal in the reserves this week but he may not be prepared to wait until then.

"We won't be prepared to make a bid until we have seen him play at a higher level."

Another Palace player whose future may lie away from Selhurst Park is Sam Togwell.

The young midfielder has impressed while on loan at Port Vale and the League One side have made an undisclosed bid to sign him on a permanent basis.

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