Crystal Palace have signed defender Danny Gabbidon on a free transfer until the end of the season.

The 33-year-old has been training with Dougie Freedman’s squad for the past week and will bolster Palace’s defensive options with captain Paddy McCarthy sidelined through injury.

The signing was announced before the Eagles’ 1-1 draw with Nottingham Forest last night.

Palace take on high flyers Cardiff this Saturday at Selhurst Park, and Gabbidon, who achieved promotion with the Bluebirds in 2003 when they were managed by Lennie Lawrence, could go straight into the squad to face his former team.

The experienced centre back has been capped 45 times by Wales and spent last season at Queens Park Rangers where he made 17 appearances for them in the Premier League.