August 15 2001

Crystal Palace

Steve Bruce is patiently waiting for Middlesbrough defender Steve Vickers to decide whether or not he wants to come to Crystal Palace.

Middlesbrough and Palace have agreed a fee of £500,000 for the 33-year-old and Bruce wants him to sign in time for his debut against Stockport on Saturday.

Fan Zhiyi is away for three months on World Cup duty with China.

Vickers said: "I'm about to speak to Steve Bruce again. Palace want an answer from me as quickly as possible because he wants the deal tying up.

"He's desperate for me to go there but it's the hardest thing I've had to make my mind up about for a long time."

Bruce is still waiting to see if trialist Tony Popovic will be given a work permit, to complete his £500,000 transfer.