One to Watch - Freddie Sears

Crystal Palace loan striker Freddie Sears will be looking to get off the mark tomorrow night as the Eagles come to W12.

Name: Freddie Sears

Date of Birth: 27-11-1989 (Hornchurch)

Current Club: West Ham United

Appearances (Goals): 30 (1)

West Ham United youngster Freddie Sears has caused quite a stir since bursting onto the scene at Upton Park a couple of years ago.

The Hammers have always had a good tradition in producing thriving young talent from their production line, and Sears is the latest to roll off the conveyor belt.

After impressing in West Ham's under 18s side, he was duly promoted to the reserves at the fledgling age of 17.

A stunning spell in the reserves included 20 goals in 15 games for the second string, a run that included a call up to the England under 19 squad.

A total of 25 goals in 24 goals over the two levels prompted the Hammers to offer Sears a new deal at Upton Park - not to be his only reward as he made a surprise debut days later.

With the game against Blackburn Rovers poised at 1-1 Sears entered the field in the 75th minute replacing Nolberto Solano and immediately endeared himself to the home support by scoring the winner with little under ten minutes remaining.

Six further displays that season saw fans take to the hard-working striker who also made an appearance at Old Trafford in early May, performances that promised much for the following season.

Sears made 22 appearances for West Ham last season, but failed to trouble the scorers under the new tenure of Gianfranco Zola.

This prompted the Italian to loan out Sears for the start of the 2009-10 campaign, and with several names including QPR, Sheffield Wednesday and Peterborough United in the frame, he decided to link up with Neil Warnock at Crystal Palace.

Thus far this season he has made six appearances for the Eagles, and while officially he has failed to trouble the scorers, he was the goalscorer at the heart of a refereeing fiasco against Bristol City.

Ghost Goal 2 as some have dubbed it, occurred on August 15 as Crystal Palace played Bristol City at Ashton Gate. Sears' effort that hit the back of the net and bounced out was adjudged wide by the officiating team led by Rob Shoebridge - they subsequently received a one game ban.

After dropping out of the line-up for the 4-0 home debacle to Scunthorpe United at the weekend, Sears is expected to return to the fold as Palace travel to Loftus Road tomorrow night.




Have your say on The Forum

Follow us on Twitter

Become a fan on Facebook - Become a fan of Vital QPR

Vital F1 Prediction League - Join now for Monaco

*Try Vital Mobile FOR FREE for the latest news, scores, fixtures and so much more*

Click here to join in the debate on the club forum.