Attacker recalled by The Eagles

Sullay Kaikai will return to Crystal Palace after he was recalled from his loan deal. The 21-year-old attacker joined Brentford in August in a deal that was set to last for the whole of the 2016/17 season. However, Palace have exercised an option to recall Sullay during the January Transfer Window. He will head back to Palace immediately and will not be available for Brentford’s Sky Bet Championship game at Birmingham City today, Monday 2 January.

Sullay played 18 Championship games for Brentford during his time at Griffin Park. He started six of those, including the draw against Norwich City on Saturday. He scored three goals in his four months in West London. Two of those came in the Boxing Day draw with Cardiff City while the other came against Wolverhampton Wanderers at Molineux.

Dean Smith, Brentford FC Head Coach, said: “We would have loved to have kept hold of Sullay for the season. He is a player with great potential and he has made an impact for us, particularly in recent matches. This is his first taste of Championship football and he has made the step up, he is a player I have enjoyed working with.

“He is a Crystal Palace player and they have exercised their option to recall him. They have players going to the African Cup of Nations and have lots of games coming up so Sullay may be in line to play in the Premier League for them. They also have a new manager in Sam Allardyce and I am sure he wants to look at Sullay. I wish him all the best for the rest of this season and thank him for his efforts during his time here.”

Sullay has been with Palace since he was 15. He turned professional in the summer of 2013 and made his debut for The Eagles in a League Cup tie a year later, scoring against Newcastle United. Sullay had loan spells at Crawley Town, Cambridge United and Shrewsbury Town, twice. In his two spells at Shrewsbury in League One last season he scored 12 goals in 26 games and was handed a Premier League debut by Palace at the end of the season.