Bradford v Palace – Team news preview

Last updated : 23 January 2004 By Nik Taylor

Michael Hughes is set for a return to the Palace starting line-up after seeing out his suspension and recovering from a hamstring injury.

The midfielder is expected to come into the team in place of Ben Watson. Jamie Smith is still suspended and will also miss next week’s Wimbledon game, following his farcical ‘sending off’ against Spurs in the third round of the Cup.

With Tony Popovic and Kit Symons still struggling with hamstring injuries, that leaves Iain Dowie with few defensive options once again.

Thomas Myhre plays the last match of his three-month loan from Sunderland. However, the keeper looks odds-on for a permanent move to Selhurst after Black Cats manager Mick McCarthy admitted that Myhre had no future at the Wearside club.

Bradford will be looking to turn round a horrendous run of form that has seen them lose seven of their last nine matches, scoring only three goals in the process. However, the Bantams will be without influential forward man Dean Windass for the clash.

Probable Palace XI

Myhre
Butterfield Granville Hudson Borrowdale
Routledge Riihilahti Hughes Gray
Johnson Shipperley