PALACE SEAL STAUNTON LOAN

VETERAN defender Steve Staunton has joined Crystal Palace on an indefinite loan spell, and is put straight into The Eagles' side to face Portsmouth on Saturday afternoon, but manager Alan Smith has called off a bid for Dougie Freedman.

The Division One outfit have been looking to strengthen their squad for some time and have snapped up the 31-year-old after an injury to captain Neil Ruddock.

Staunton has found himself out in the cold at Liverpool this season and was linked with moves to Bradford, Wolves and Derby in recent weeks.

However, he has moved to Selhurst Park for an indefinite period in a bid to rekindle his career.

Meanwhile, Smith has pulled out of a £500,000 move for Nottingham Forest's former Eagles striker Dougie Freedman, after the transfer was not completed before the 12pm Friday deadline.