Football: Armstrong for Palace

CRYSTAL PALACE have signed the Millwall forward Chris Armstrong for pounds 1m in the belief that the relative novice could develop into another Ian Wright. Armstrong aims to complete the move today after a medical and could make his debut at Manchester United tomorrow.

'Chris has a lot to learn,' Palace's assistant manager, Alan Smith, said of the 21-year-old. 'But I have watched him twice and he's got that certain something we saw in Ian Wright and John Salako. They both went on to play for England. Chris is a little like Wright in certain respects.'

Wright will be hoping for a place in the squad that England's manager, Graham Taylor, announces today for the friendly match against Spain in Santander on 9 September. His chances will have been improved by the hairline ankle fracture Sheffield Wednesday's David Hirst suffered during the 2-1 defeat at Arsenal on Saturday. Hirst will be out for four weeks.

Two other ankle injury victims are the Manchester United defender Mike Phelan and the Coventry City midfield player Mickey Gynn. Phelan expects to be out for three weeks, but Gynn, who has damaged ligaments, faces up to 10 weeks off.