Neil Warnock was full of praise for defender Paddy McCarthy after he overcame a dislocated shoulder to play against Sheffield United on Saturday.

It was feared the Irishman, who had an eventful game as he scored, missed an open goal and gave away a late penalty, would face three months out when he was carried off against Doncaster seven days earlier, but a visit to shoulder consultant David Potter revealed he could play on and Warnock admitted the decision to start him was made only hours before kick-off.

He said: “He dislocates his shoulder and I’m thinking he’s going to need an operation, but he comes and sees a guy up here in Sheffield, David Potter, who is a fantastic shoulder consultant, and he told him that if he can stand the pain there is not going to be any real damage unless it comes out every week.

“Then to play like that against a tough opponent like James Beattie, I thought he was magnificent.

“It would have been so cruel on him if his alleged push would have cost us the game.”

The 60-year-old also hailed youngster Nathanial Clyne after the right back produced another man of the match display and is yet to taste defeat in eight Palace games.

“I thought the young lad did well,” he said.

“I wondered about the crowd today on him but he coped admirably and he gets better with every game.”

The Yorkshireman was pleased with his side’s fighting spirit after Nick Carle secured a point with the last kick of the game in the 94th minute, equalising Beattie’s penalty three minutes from time after McCarthy was harshly adjudged to have bought down the striker.

“It’s a great feeling and it’s almost like winning the game,” he said.

“I don’t think the game deserved to be decided on a decision like that. It was very very harsh.”