Crystal Palace manager Alan Pardew has claimed young winger Sullay Kaikai would have played for the first team over the last month had it not been for an injury he suffered shortly before he was recalled from his loan spell at Shrewsbury Town.

Kaikai was given a place on the substitutes bench at Swansea on Saturday alongside fellow academy star Hiram Boateng, but didn't make his Premier League debut unlike Boateng, who replaced Yohan Cabaye for the final 20 minutes. 

The winger was recalled from a successful loan spell at Shrewsbury due to injury but recovered in time to add depth to a depleted squad which had seen Connor Wickham, Dwight Gayle and Yannick Bolasie all sidelined. However, another injury forced Kaikai to miss all of Palace's January fixtures, which frustrated the Eagles boss as he had the 20-year-old in his plans. 

Pardew feels for 'unfortunate' Kaikai after injury left him out of the first team

Pardew told the media prior to the visit to Swansea that he felt "unfortunate for him [Kaikai]" because "with Bolasie's injury problems he would have played by now."

Kaikai scored his first senior goal in last season's Capital One Cup tie against Pardew's then-Newcastle side, before he was sent on loan to Cambridge United where he scored five goals in 25 league appearances. His form earned him the young player of the year award at both Cambridge and Palace. 

Kaikai enjoyed a fruitful loan spell at Shrewsbury, but had his stay cut short due to injury | Photo: Shrewsburytown.com
Kaikai enjoyed a fruitful loan spell at Shrewsbury but had his stay cut short due to injury | Photo: Shrewsburytown.com

The youngster was an unused substitute against Shrewsbury earlier this season, before he then joined the League One side on loan to gain further first-team football. Kaikai scored five goals in 14 league appearances for Micky Mellon's side but he had his loan ended in December due to injury. 

Both Kaikai and Boateng are expected to be on the bench once again on Saturday when Watford visit Selhurst Park. 

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Sam Smith
VAVEL UK sub-editor. Premier League and Football League accredited journalist.