WEST HAM striker Freddie Sears is set to return from his loan spell at Crystal Palace in January. The 20-year-old has played 17 games for the Eagles, but failed to trouble the scorers, except for the ghost goal he managed against Bristol City in only his

WEST HAM striker Freddie Sears is set to return from his loan spell at Crystal Palace in January.

The 20-year-old has played 17 games for the Eagles, but failed to trouble the scorers, except for the ghost goal he managed against Bristol City in only his second appearance for the club.

His shot hit the stanchion at the back of the net and came out again, but the referee and linesmen were the only people in the ground who did not see it had gone in.

That sort of scenario seems to be typical of Sears' footballing career since he made his debut for the Hammers in March 2008, coming on as a substitute to score the winner against Blackburn.

That was the one and only goal he has scored however, having now played another 45 games since that Upton Park debut.

But with West Ham struggling for strikers, it seems that Sears is set to return to Upton Park early from his season-long loan.

"West Ham have asked for him to go back in January," revealed Eagles' boss Neil Warnock. "They have one or two problems up front and he is their player at the end of the day.