Andrew Johnson has returned to Crystal Palace on a short-term deal after leaving Queens Park Rangers as a free agent.
The former England striker will take on a coaching role with the academy in addition to strengthening the striking options available to Neil Warnock, who himself returned to Selhurst Park as manager at the end of last month.
��I am delighted to be coming back to a club that I love and have a real soft spot for,” the 33-year-old said. “I have also been given an opportunity to help the youngsters in a coaching capacity, something I am really looking forward to getting involved in.”
Johnson scored 85 goals in 160 appearances during his first spell with the south London club where he became a firm favourite with the crowd, helping them to promotion to the Premier League in 2004.
But, four years after joining from Birmingham City, he left Selhurst Park for Everton in a deal worth £8.6 million in 2006 before returning to London with Fulham in a £10.5 million transfer in 2008.
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He has spent the last two seasons at Loftus Road but has not played since February having struggled with a persistent knee injury. It remains to be seen if Warnock includes him in his squad as soon as the visit of Burnley a week on Saturday.
Johnson, who was handed his England debut in a 0-0 friendly draw against Holland by Sven-Göran Eriksson, won the last of his eight caps in a 2-1 friendly defeat by Germany at Wembley in August 2007.