February 27 2008

Shaun Derry

We reveal the top 10 loan players to appear for Crystal Palace.

10. Terry Phelan (1999)
The left-back added steel and experience to the side when he was sent on loan from Everton. Had the brilliant chant "We've got that Terry Phelan" to the tune of You've Lost that Loving Feeling by The Righteous Brothers.

9. Steve Staunton (2000)
After finding himself out of favour at Liverpool, the experienced Irish international got first team action with six matches at Palace and scored an amazing goal from the half-way line at home to Tranmere.

8. Chris Whyte (1984)
A cultured centre back with Arsenal, he fell down the pecking order with Tony Adams breaking into the side and got 17 first team games at Palace.

7. Gonzalo Sorondo (2004-5)
Signed on a season-long loan from Italian giants Inter Milan, the Uruguay centre half won plaudits for his tough-tackling, yet composed displays in Palace's unsuccessful stay in the Premier League.

6. Shaun Derry (2007-08)
Joined from Leeds United in a two-month loan and played a pivitol role in the Eagles' 15-match unbeaten run as they surged into the Championship top six from the relegation places. After that he signed permanently for his second spell at the club.

5. Kenny Brown (1996)
The full-back joined from West Ham and helped Palace to the Division One play-off final, scoring three goals in six appearances including one against Charlton in the semi-final first leg.

4. Ashley Cole (2000)
Crystal Palace fans were among the first to see the talents of Arsenal's young goatee-wearing Ashley Cole who starred during a three-month stint where he scored a long-range goal against Blackburn.

3. Nico Vaesen (2004)
The Birmingham stopper kept six clean sheets in 13 games and was instrumental in Palace's promotion to the Premier League via the play-offs in 2004. He made two excellent stops from West Ham's Steve Lomas and Bobby Zamora in the final after saving two penalty shoot-out kicks in the play-off semi against Sunderland.

2. Mikael Forssell (2000) and (2000-01)
The Finnish international arrived on loan from Chelsea at the end of the 1999/2000 campaign and impressed with three goals in 13 matches. The loan was extended for the whole of the next season and his 13 goals from 31 starts contributed to Palace's Division One survival.

1. Paul Stewart (1994)
Although he scored just three goals in 18 matches, the on-loan Liverpool striker's hold-up play, experience and overall quality was crucial in Palace winning the Division One title in 1994.