September 11 2007

Dougie Freedman

Dougie Freedman has pleaded with Crystal Palace manager Peter Taylor to recall him to the side.

The Scottish forward has only made one start this term, scoring in Palace's Carling Cup penalty shoot-out defeat at Bristol Rovers.

Freedman admits he's been frustrated at spending most of the time on the bench and insists he can provide a cutting edge the team is lacking.

Palace have had a sticky start to the new campaign with just one victory in the bag and Freedman, 33, reckons he should be given a chance.

"I expect to play - I train hard and keep myself fit," he said. "I showed that in the League Cup game when I scored, played 120 minutes and still felt strong and fit and created a few chances.

"It's a little upsetting for myself if people see me being used off the bench because I'm a creator - a maker and taker of goals - and there's somewhere in the team we need that.

"At my age staff at the club maybe thought I was coming back this year to be a squad player, but I'm not just here to do that.

"I played a lot of games off the bench last year and some of the staff have told me I should have started more matches, I can't have another season like that."