Ben Watson will come back into the Crystal Palace first team this weekend having failed to secure a move away from Selhurst Park.

The 23-year-old midfielder has only made one appearance in the League Cup so far this season but with Tom Soares moving to Stoke City on transfer deadline day last week, the deadball specialist is expected to fill the void left in the centre of the park.

Manager Neil Warnock said: “Now we have let Tom go he will play.”

Watson was placed on the transfer list when he turned down the offer of a new contract with his current deal running out next summer.

But despite reported interest from QPR and Birmingham City and a fee agreed with Championship newboys Nottingham Forest, no move away materialised and he will now be considered for first team selection.

Another midfielder who could soon be back in first team reckoning is Neil Danns, who has spent the majority of his Eagles career on the treatment table following his January move from Birmingham City.

Warnock said: “Neil’s stepped up training this week. He’s had two good weeks now and could be going in by the end of the week for some football activities.

“Hopefully he will have a reserve game in the next few weeks.”