March 2 2001

Fan Zhiyi

Alan Smith will be happy to welcome back Fan Zhiyi to his squad for the game against Preston North End at Selhurst Park on Saturday. The Chinese central defender missed the past 8 matches because of a hamstring injury.

Fan Zhiyi picked up the hamstring injury during the lost FA Cup 3rd round replay against Sunderland at Selhurst Park in January.

The Chinaman has been sorely missed since and the Selhurst faithful must be glad to see him back in the team.

Jamie Pollock, however, will be missing from the line up. He serves a three-match suspension after failing in his appeal against the sending off at Norwich City.

Alan Smith's probable eleven: Kolinko, Smith, Austin, Zhiyi, Berhalter, Mullins, Morrison, Forssell, Black, Gray and Rodger.

Meanwhile, Alan Smith slammed the FA after the club were handed their third disrepute charge of the season.

The Eagles have already been fined £20,000 following a bust up with Nottingham Forest, are awaiting a decision on their Boxing Day skirmish with Gillingham and now they can expect to be hit with a heavy fine.

Smith is angry about the was the Football Association have been handling the incidents.

He said: "I feel aggravated about the charge which again is something out of nothing and a lot of officials get involved in situations which are unimportant."

Palace have 14 days to request a personal hearing and chairman Simon Jordan already said that he will consider legal action to clear the club's name if more fines are imposed.