Francis Eagle-eyed

12:53pm Friday 21st December 2001

Just three weeks into his Crystal Palace career, Trevor Francis has already begun delving into the transfer market while he assesses the current playing squad, writes Joseph O'Shea.

After clinching the £400,000 deal that brought Kit Symons, 30, to Palace from Fulham two weeks ago, Francis has signed French goalkeeper Cedric Carasso, 19, on a six-month loan from Marseilles. Carasso has spent the last two months on trial at the club after he failed to impress Steve Bruce while on loan in the summer.

He has played Champions League football for Marseilles and impressed the Palace management with some excellent reserve team displays.

Francis said: "He's been here on loan before and on the advice of my backroom staff we have kept him on for another six months. He's shown a lot of potential for a 19-year-old and he will give us the little bit more cover in the goal-keeping area that's needed with Matt Clarke out."

A cut hand will keep Clarke out of action for another week, so Carasso joins the squad to face Nottingham Forest at Selhurst Park tonight. But he will have to wait for his first start because Francis is pleased with the form of understudy keeper Alex Kolinko and new signing Symons, despite the Watford defeat.

He said: "In the three games since I've been here, the form of Alex Kolinko and Kit Symons has been outstanding. They have been very consistent and that's what I'm looking for in my players."

Francis has given loan signing Christian Edwards, 26, a further chance to prove himself by extending his loan from Nottingham Forest for another month.

The Welsh international has endured mixed fortunes at Palace, with solid performances like the one against Manchester City, undermined by crucial mistakes like the penalty at Birmingham.

Francis said: "He's done alright but I think I've not had sufficient opportunity to make a definite decision, so we'll look at him over the next month."

While Francis assesses the players, he is determined to keep the current squad together and make additions only where necessary.

He told the Guardian Clinton Morrison was not for sale despite reported £3m interest from Blackburn and he is not interested in Charlton bad-boy defender Andy Todd.

Meanwhile, Palace have appointed old boy Dave Swindlehurst as reserve team manager after Mark Bowen's departure to Birmingham.

Swindlehurst was a prolific Eagles goalscorer, netting 81 goals in eight seasons at the club.

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