Former Crystal Palace prodigy Nathaniel Clyne is training with Crystal Palace ahead of securing a possible contract with his former club, according to The Athletic.
The free-agent was released by Liverpool after failing to make a strong impact in the first team. The defender, who can operate in both full-back positions, suffered a season-ending knee injury in a pre-season friendly against German giants Borussia Dortmund.
Roy Hodgson’s side are reportedly open to recruiting more defensive cover, with summer signing Nathan Ferguson still looking to recover and return to full match readiness following an operation on his knee for a damaged meniscus in January.
Palace currently only have one fit and available natural right-back in Joel Ward. Were Ward to suffer a serious injury, Palace can only call upon academy graduate Sam Wood and veteran Martin Kelly as makeshift full-backs at present – with Kelly himself still vying to find full match sharpness.
Clyne was due to report to Crystal Palace’s Beckenham training ground on Thursday morning and will spend an initial period of two weeks with the club. The player will look to find fitness and make an impression on manager Roy Hodgson, in the hope that the club are willing to offer a contract at the denouement of his trial training period.
Clyne was sold by Crystal Palace to Southampton in 2012 for a fee just under £3 million, before switching to Liverpool after an impressive period in the south of England for a fee in excess of £15 million.
