Sunderland v Crystal Palace
The FA Cup, Third Round
Stadium of Light
Saturday January 8

Andy Johnson's blistering form this season hasn't surprised Crystal Palace's Scotland international striker Dougie Freedman.

But 30-year-old Freedman is also looking forward to stepping out AJ's shadow on Saturday in the FA Cup third round at Sunderland.

"I had a feeling AJ could do it in the Premiership because he has the qualities you need to score goals at any level," says Freedman.

"When you're as quick and brave as him, you can score anywhere. It's been frustrating for me because our manager Iain Dowie plays with a lone striker in the Premiership so I've had to do with few minutes here and there from the bench.

"But nobody at the club including me begrudges AJ anything because he is such a great guy and works so hard for the team. If he got too big for his boots, there are plenty of experienced players at Palace would would keep his feet on the ground. But that hasn't been necessary because he hasn't changed as a person at all.

"I've managed to score a couple of goals in the League Cup this season and I'm hoping the manager selects me at Sunderland. If AJ is rested, myself and Neil Shipperley can come in and we've got good experience. We have a very strong squad at Palace, we made lots of changes for a League Cup game at Charlton and won against their strongest side."

AJ, whose double against Aston Villa on Monday took his Premiership tally to 13, wouldn't be scoring goals for Palace in the top flight if it wasn't for Freedman.

The Scot scored a vital late goal against Stockport on the final day of 2000/01 to prevent them slipping into the old Division Two.

"Our chairman Simon Jordan always reminds me about that!" says Freedman. "I had only been back at the club for six months and he'd only been chairman for eight. We were new boys and I think relegation would have been a huge blow to him.

"Thankfully the club have taken massive strides since then and I am glad to be part of it. Even though I'm not getting regular first-team football and other clubs have expressed interest in taking me on loan, I want to stick it out and give it a go.

"I want to have a go for a Premiership team rather than score goals in The Championship. If the situation hasn't changed in March, I might have to rethink but that is the way I feel now."

Freedman has an FA Cup hard-luck story. In 1998, he helped Wolves to the semi-final but got injured the week before they faced Arsenal.

"I only spent a season at Wolves and looking back I should have stayed longer at Palace. This time I'm not going to move hastily but fight for my chance."

An FA Cup winner at The Stadium of Light would remind everyone Andy Johnson isn't the only striker on Crystal Palace's books!