Crystal Palace have sent Freddie Sears back to injury-hit West Ham United.

Sears was signed on a season long deal in the summer, but has been recalled early as Hammers boss Gianfranco Zola is struggling with an injury crisis in his front line.

"He's been a really good lad to have around the place and he has worked very hard for us," Eagles boss Neil Warnock told the Croydon Advertiser. "Obviously we would have liked to have had a few more goals but it just hasn't worked out for him."