Clinton's coming home

Last updated : 25 August 2005 By Nik Taylor

Palace have sealed the £2m capture of former striker Clinton Morrison, who has joined from Birmingham on a three-year deal.

The 26-year-old, a product of the Palace Academy, left Selhurst Park in 2002 in the £4.25m deal that brought Andrew Johnson in the other direction.

The Eagles fought off competition from a clutch of top Championship clubs, including Norwich and Southampton, to land their man.

Although he has struggled to command a regular first-team spot at St Andrews, Morrison has established himself as a regular international for Ireland since making the move.

Palace boss Iain Dowie has no doubt he has invested in a top-class forward.

"Clinton has been bought not only for this division, but for a higher division as well," said Dowie.

"I think if we had signed him last season, we might have stayed in the Premiership."

Morrison is likely to go straight into the squad for Saturday’s home match against Stoke – and he’s full of optimism about returning to his home club.

"It’s a big year for me," he said. "We could get promoted, and I could play for Ireland in the World Cup in Germany.

"I would not have come back to Palace if I didn’t feel sure we could get promoted. Palace are better than Championship standard, and now it’s up to us to prove that."