Crystal Palace

Crystal Palace manager Alan Pardew wants Dwight Gayle "statement"

By Shane Callaghan, Reporter | 10 September 2015

Crystal Palace boss Alan Pardew tells striker Dwight Gayle to shelve his disappointment over a botched move to Norwich City and prove his mettle at Selhurst Park instead.

Crystal Palace manager Alan Pardew has called on striker Dwight Gayle to play his way back into contention following a botched deadline-day move to Norwich City.

The 24-year-old looked on course to join the Canaries, but Palace - who had already sold Glenn Murray to Bournemouth - reportedly called off the deal after forward Connor Wickham picked up an injury.

"I think it was really how much game time they were going to get, both being on the roster. And of course now with Glenn leaving it gives Dwight an opportunity and he is now in the process of trying to take that," Pardew told a press conference.

"He's trained very well, so Dwight's very much a part of our family and hopefully we can give him more game time. Because that's been part of the frustration. It's not like we wanted to move him on, the frustration came from the player himself.

"But with Glenn going, the opportunity has come for him to make a statement."

The Eagles, who sit second in the Premier League standings after winning three of their first four games, host top-of-the-table Manchester City on Saturday.