Crystal Palace's Bakary Sako has a better shot than '95% of the Premier League', says Alan Pardew

Venomous: Pardew has praised Sako's two-footed ability
Alex Broadway/Getty Images
Sam Long7 January 2016

Crystal Palace manager Alan Pardew is pleased Bakary Sako has returned to full fitness as he believes the 27-year-old will be able to improve the Eagles' goal threat.

The south Londoners have enjoyed an impressive start to the season but the side have struggled for goals in recent weeks and failed to score in their last three games.

Connor Wickham is the only Palace striker to have scored a top-flight goal during the current campaign while Fraizer Campbell, Marouane Chamakh and Dwight Gayle are yet to open their respective accounts.

Sako has not featured for Palace since he suffered a hamstring injury in mid November but is in line to return to the team for this weekend's FA Cup third round clash against Southampton at St. Mary's.

“Sako is definitely available for this one - it is really good news on that front,” confirmed Pardew.

“He gives me a weapon that I haven’t had for five or six games. He has a shot in both feet that has got a little more venom than perhaps 95 per cent of the Premier League.

“He is important because he can get a goal out of nothing and it is something at the top of my agenda at the moment - scoring goals."

England's primary cup competition has become less of a priority for the majority of Premier League managers as a greater emphasis is placed on top-flight survival but Pardew is adamant he will field a strong side on the South Coast.

“We’ve got a good side to go to Southampton.

“You look at the chances of actually winning a trophy as a manager, for me it’s got to be the trophy that has utmost importance," Pardew insisted.

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“Trying to win the Premier League with a club the size of ours is very, very difficult. The League Cup and FA Cup are massive for me, our fans, our clubs and our players.

“We have got 5,000 fans going down there and we have a responsibility - I do to them - that we’re very strong and we will do.”

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