Pardew backs Puncheon to “do a Scholes”

While Crystal Palace scramble desperately to reshape their team before the transfer window shuts at the end of the month, boss Alan Pardew believes a solution to one of his problems could be lying right under his nose.

Though Palace moved early in the window to shore up their rearguard, with centre-back James Tomkins and goalkeeper Steve Mandanda arriving, there have been problems at the top end of the pitch.

Strikers Emmanuel Adebayor, Marouane Chamakh and Dwight Gayle have all departed Selhurst Park, while Yannick Bolasie has completed a big money move to Everton and Mile Jedinak looks set to join Aston Villa.

But Pardew feels one area of recruitment he may not need to address comes in centre midfield, backing winger Jason Puncheon to reinvent himself.

(Catherine Ivill – AMA/Getty Images)

“He’s a player like Paul Scholes who ended up as a deep midfield player and started as a forward,” said Pardew.

“Punch has great technique and ability with the ball. I don’t want to take that away.

“He can be an influence in many positions and there will be some games where I’ve looked at him in pre-season to play that deeper role.

“Whether he plays that position we’ll have to wait and see, but it’s certainly an option. He produced in pre-season, but he can play that number eight role.”