Palace today completed the signing of Clint Hill in time for tonight's trip to Cardiff City.

The 29-year-old defender, who can play at either left back or central defence, joined from Stoke on a two-month loan until January.

Clint rose through the ranks at Tranmere where he appeared in the 2000 League Cup Final and made a total of 140 appearances in a 5-year spell.

In 2002 he moved to Oldham Athletic but the £250,000 switch was cut short after he broke his leg in a League Cup tie against Palace in December of that year.

The following summer the Liverpudlian signed for Stoke, where his no-nonsense style made him a firm crowd favourite and helped him clinch the Fans' Player of the Year award in 2004/05.

But that season was cut short by a torn cruciate knee ligament, and his first team chances at the Britannia Stadium were limited last term.