The forgotten man of Selhurst Park, Marco Reich, made his return to the Palace starting line-up on Saturday and thumbs up to Peter Taylor for selecting him - he needed to give him a go.

Along with Mark Kennedy, the German possesses the best delivery at the club and with Taylor's persistence of deploying his preferred front pairing of Shefki Kuqi and James Scowcroft, it is vital they are given good service.

Without consistent balls into the box, Scowcroft and Kuqi will not score goals. Reich's presence in the team makes Palace a more dangerous outfit and his deliveries will get the best out of the physical frontmen.

But how patient will Taylor be with his German international? Reich was both brilliant and frustrating last campaign, which was much to blame for Iain Dowie's preference of playing the more solid Tom Soares on the wing.

If Reich could throw consistency into his box of tricks, Palace would have one hell of a player on their books and a match winner - which they severely lack.

Hopefully he is given the same amount of time to prove himself as Kuqi, as one game is not enough to put a marker down to his manager.

But Reich was not Taylor's signing, so the Palace boss is not under pressure to select him - lets hope the German makes it impossible for Taylor to leave him out.