Crystal Palace manager Steve Coppell is ready to give Tomas Brolin a chance to resurrect his controversial career. But Coppell admits the former Leeds and Parma star would be only a short-term addition to his squad.
Brolin, who starred for Sweden in USA '94, moved to Leeds from Parma in 1995 but he failed to shine.
Howard Wilkinson and subsequently George Graham struggled to control Brolin amid reports of weight and attitude problems, and he has not played since leaving Elland Road in acrimonious circumstances.
But Coppell is prepared to take on Brolin in order to help keep Palace in the Premiership this season.
"He's free at the moment and I've just said if he wants to come and train with us and make himself available, then fine," Coppell said.
"We are in contact with him through intermediaries. I think realistically he is only going to commit himself until the end of the season, and we probably only have a need until the end of the season.
"But at least we give him an opportunity to re-establish himself. I think he is only 28 but he has got a lot to do. He's been out of the game for close to three months so he's got to look for the best opportunity he can to show that he's a top-quality player."
Coppell takes his team to Pride Park today to take on Derby but he will be without several key players. Attilio Lombardo and Michele Padovano are both in Italy receiving treatment for injuries picked up against Liverpool last week.
Coppell will also be without key defender Marc Edworthy, who begins a three-match suspension following his dismissal by referee Uriah Rennie at Leicester City a fortnight ago.
Palace sent a video of the incident to the Football Association and that tape was then given to Rennie for him to reconsider, but the Sheffield official declined to change his mind.
Coppell said: "I think it is scandalous. I have seen things happen this season that are far worse than the incident that saw Edworthy sent off.
"Mr Rennie was in charge for our game at Leeds earlier this season and I thought he did an excellent job then. I think that this incident is just part of his learning curve."
