Dougie: Palace let me shine
Crystal Palace striker Dougie Freedman insists he owes his first call-up to the Scotland squad in four years to his decision to rejoin the club last October.
Freedman has distinguished himself in his second spell at Selhurst Park since signing from Nottingham Forest.
Freedman scored the winner at Stockport on the final day of last season to keep the club in Division One and has started this campaign with eight goals in nine games. Freedman has been rewarded with a call-up to the Scotland squad that has to beat Latvia by a wide margin next week to have a hope of winning a World Cup play-off berth.
He believes his form can not only win him his first cap, but also the match for Scotland. He said: ?I jumped at the chance to come back to Palace because I knew I could do well here. Steve Bruce has helped me a lot since he took over managing the club.
?I knew if I kept scoring goals I would be called up eventually.
?I have had a good start to the season and the club are up in the top six, so it is good to be rewarded. It?s up to me to take my chance.?
Freedman will be in the Palace side hoping to make it four wins in succession when they host Sheffield Wednesday tomorrow. They will be without Chinese defender Fan Zhiyi who has been put up for sale while away on national duty.
Bruce is insensed that the player chose to turn out for the Chinese team despite assurances to the contrary and is now prepared to consider any offers for him.
