Mullins set to fly Eagle's nest

Crystal Palace could be forced to sell midfielder Hayden Mullins or risk seeing him leave on a free transfer next summer.

The 24-year-old Palace player of the year has only 12 months left on his current deal and is likely not to extend his contract after talks over a new deal broke down.

Mullins’ agent Andrew Mills said: "No effort has been made by Palace to keep Hayden so I have written to the chairman to confirm that under no circumstances would he be staying after the end of this contract.”

West Brom defender Phil Gilchrist is undergoing a series of injections he hopes will hasten his recovery from a knee injury.

The 29-year-old missed the final half-dozen games of last season after suffering a torn patella tendon.

Gilchrist said: “It’s a course of injections in my knee which encourage the healing process.

“Fingers crossed it’ll start feeling better after the first one but it may be a longer process.

“I don’t think there’s any doubt I’ll be fit for the start of the season but this treatment will determine whether I’m fit for the start of pre-season,” he told Albion’s official website, www.wba.co.uk.

Preston’s Jamaica international striker Ricardo Fuller is hoping to return to fitness for the start of pre-season in July.

Fuller, who moved to Deepdale from Hearts in a £500,000 (€697,000) move last June, has been out of action since November following a knee injury.

But the 23-year-old has started sprinting and told the Lilywhites’ official website, www.pnefc.co.uk: “I haven’t set any targets.

“I am just working hard and hoping to be ready for July, all I can do is give my best.”