Crystal Palace boss Tony Pulis sees fit-again Glenn Murray as a supersub.
Pulis will ease the 30-year-old back into first-team action and Murray stays on the bench for Saturday evening's clash against Manchester United at Selhurst Park.
"Glenn will be a good substitute for us for a few weeks," Pulis told the Croydon Advertiser.
"I don't see him starting a game. He needs another week or so.
"We're just happy to have him on board and have him part of it, but we understand he's been out for nine months."