Crystal Palace striker Kevin Phillips has admitted that he may be forced to leave Selhurst Park in search of regular first-team football when the transfer window reopens.
Phillips scored the goal that earned Palace promotion to the Premier League in May and signed a one-year contract to play for the Eagles beyond his 40th birthday soon after.
Since putting pen to paper on that deal, Phillips has featured just five times for Palace in all competitions this season and now concedes that he is desperate for more game time in his final year as a professional.
He told Sky Sports News: "I knew that I was going to spend the majority of my time on the bench this season. I suppose what's more frustrating for me at the moment is the position I play. We're doing OK in games in certain periods but we're not scoring goals.
"I still believe I can give something to the football club in that area. I would live to have a little bit more game time, I believe that in the last 20 minutes I could come on and get into areas which other players may not use, taking a gamble.
"It's frustrating but I'll continue through to January and reassess the situation again then. I could perhaps walk away from the football club or the club could release me. If that is the case I will look for somewhere local in the Midlands and try and finish my career that way."
Phillips has scored 92 Premier League goals across spells with five clubs, including Sunderland, Aston Villa and West Bromwich Albion.
Liam Power
