April 6 2001

Crystal Palace

Striker Dougie Freedman is struggling with a hamstring injury and is likely to miss Saturday's clash with Watford at Vicarage Road. The injury already prevented him from playing against Huddersfield on Tuesday.

If Alan Smith decides to play three up front it is likely that Jamaican international Ricardo Fuller will take Freedman's place.

In that case Tommy Black is likely to start from the bench.

There are no other injurie worries for Alan Smith.

Meanwhile, Alan Smith will have to wait until next week to know if Matthew Upson's loan deal can be extended until the end of the season.

Smith would like to keep the Arsenal defender, whose loan deal ends next week.

The Eagles boss is keen on keeping Upson as his team looks set to be without Chinese defender Fan Zhiyi for the final four games of the season because of international duty.