Palace close in on Butterfield signing (From Croydon Guardian)

Midfielder could cover for Dikgacoi ahead of Africa Cup of Nations

10:32am Thursday 3rd January 2013 in Crystal Palace By Tim Ashton

Crystal Palace are on the verge of signing Jacob Butterfield from Norwich City on a month's loan.

The 22-year-old midfielder could be the man to take over from Kagisho Dikgacoi, when the South African international is on Africa Cup of Nations duty.

Ironically, Butterfield, who spent time on loan at Bolton Wanderers before Christmas, could play his first game in a Palace shirt against his former manager Dougie Freedman when Bolton come to south London on January 19.

Meanwhile, Ian Holloway is going into this weekend's FA Cup third round clash against Premier League outfit Stoke City in buoyant mood.

After a run of four draws and one defeat in the Championship, Palace welcomed in the new year with a 3-1 win over Wolverhampton Wanderers.

Andre Moritz bagged a brace, and Yannick Bolasie scored his second of the season to lift the Eagles to within two points of the automatic promotion places.

 

 

Holloway said: "The FA Cup is a great chance for us to keep doing things in the right way against a side from the Premier League.

"Tony Pulis will have a bigger squad to pick from but I am looking at who we have available but I am not sure I want to make too many changes."

He added: "In one match you never know what might happen, but I know the club's owners are not worried about winning the FA Cup, we know where we want to be and that is in the Premier League."