An old Crystal Palace academy player made a return to the U21 side on Monday in Brendan Kiernan.
The 31-year-old’s name may not ring a bell amongst the Selhurst Park faithful, as he eventually moved to AFC Wimbledon and signed a professional contract with the League Two outfit instead of the Eagles.
Now – however – Brendan Kiernan is back at Crystal Palace in a development which has left a few fans quite confused…
Brendan Kiernan appears as trialist for Crystal Palace
Well, you do not often see a 31-year-old play a trial match for a Premier League side.
Kiernan was named on the bench as ‘trialist 15’ before Crystal Palace’s U21 side took on Birmingham City on Monday evening, with the young Eagles winning 3-0.
The man from Lambeth’s status as the trialist in question was later verified on the Crystal Palace app, also receiving his own profile page on the club’s official website.
A player of Kiernan’s experience may often appear for the U21s in the event that they’re building up match fitness, ahead of signing a deal to play for the senior side.
However – in our view at least – that seems highly unlikely to happen.
While Roy Hodgson has already admitted his desire to sign a new central midfielder this month, Kiernan is a free agent after leaving Hartlepool United at the end of last season, having spent the majority of his career playing non-league football.
Therefore, it feels more a case of Crystal Palace allowing an old academy talent to maintain his fitness in south London, rather than a genuine trial match to win a contract under Hodgson.
Lovely gesture from Crystal Palace
If we are right, and it is just a case of allowing Kiernan to build up some fitness – as seems highly likely – then it is a nice gesture from Crystal Palace.
At a time where fans are becoming very disillusioned with ongoings at Selhurst Park, it is a timely reminder of how those associated with Crystal Palace are all one large family at the end of the day.
