Crystal Palace manager Alan Pardew believes Norwich City's Patrick Bamford should have been more patient during his loan move at Selhurst Park this season.
The English centre-forward joined the Eagles at the start of the season but he struggled to make an impact in the first team.
Bamford failed to start a game in the Premier League for Pardew's side and the deal was cut short in December to allow him to return to Chelsea.
The 22-year-old has since been loaned out to Norwich, who Palace will take on this weekend in a crucial game between two relegation-threatened sides. Pardew believes Bamford was too eager to break into the first team at Selhurst Park, although he was at pains to stress that he has no problem with the Chelsea youngster. 'He probably could have handled that better,' Pardew said. 'Me and Patrick spoke about it. He knows there were a couple of errors. But that happens with young players.
'He wants to be a success instantly. But sometimes you need patience. You can get injured, lose form or not get in the team. He's a young player who was Championship Player of the Year [the previous season with Middlesbrough], scoring a lot of goals. Then he found himself not in a team.
'I had absolutely no problem with him, he's a cracking lad. He will have a great career. Patrick has a great chance, he has natural finishing skills. I look forward to seeing him on Saturday but I hope I don't see him score.'
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