Day 21 of you Crystal Palace Christmas Calendar sees us looking at Connor Wickham.

Since signing in the summer of 2015, the former Ipswich and Sunderland striker has missed 96 games and close to two full years out of the game all in all.

This season it was thought the 25-year-old's injury woes were behind him. But a week before the start of the season he suffered a calf strain which has kept him out of action until early November.

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When he did return he was someway short of match fitness after nearly 18 months out of the game. He made an unforgettable return at the start of December turning out for the under23’s.

A sublime acrobatic volley was swiftly followed by two yellow cards and subsequently a red. It seemed the physical striker was back though and ready for first team action.

With injuries to Christian Benteke earlier this season, it could’ve been a great opportunity for Wickham to showcase why Palace shelled out £9million on the target man.

Unfortunately, it now seems that both players will return to the fold at around the same time, and you’d think it would Benteke who’d get the first shot at staking a claim for the striker berth. You’d also imagine the club would want him to justify why they paid £27million on him.

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The good news is that when Wickham is fit he does score goals, not by the lorry-load, but he does get his name on the scoresheet as The Black Cats will testify. If he does feel the need for first team football, there won’t be a shortage of takers who’d want him on-loan, but it all depends if he can stay fit.