Wilfried Zaha is set to sign for Crystal Palace from Manchester United, according to reports.

The 21-year-old winger has endured a frustrating spell at Old Trafford but is set to be unveiled as a loan signing, with a view to a permanent deal.

Norwich striker Gary Hooper and Southampton midfielder Jack Cork are also been heavily linked with moves to Palace following Neil Warnock's appointment.

A YOUNG father died after being stabbed in broad daylight during a fight on a Croydon estate.

Adrian Young, 24, was attacked by three men in Cromwell Road shortly before 4.30pm on Tuesday.

The men chased him into nearby Whitehorse Road where he collapsed on the pavement.

Paramedics fought to save his life by the roadside before rushing him to hospital, where he was pronounced dead later that evening.

Mr Young's friends gathered at his girlfriend Lisa Stanley's home in Cromwell Road, yards from where he was stabbed, on Wednesday night.

A murder investigation is underway but police have yet to make any arrests.

Takeaway worker Zia Haqiqi works at London Pizza which is directly opposite the junction of Cromwell Road and Whitehorse Road.

He saw a topless Mr Young being chased by three men, around the same age as him, into Whitehorse Road.

Mr Haqiqi, 20, told the Advertiser: "I could see a group of men in the middle of Cromwell Road.

"At first I thought they were friends and they were messing around.

"Then one of them started running towards the end of the street. The others were definitely chasing him.

"He turned the corner and I realised it wasn't a joke. He took a few steps and collapsed on the floor.

"As soon as he fell down, the other men ran back along Cromwell Road. I think they ran because the police were coming, they [the police] were here that quickly."

Mr Haqqi, who himself was slashed with a knife during a terrifying attack in the takeaway around a month ago, said there was initially no obvious sign Mr Young had been stabbed.

"I couldn't see any blood but when the paramedics started working on him it was clear he was in a bad way. It looked like they had to do surgery by the side of the road," he said.

"It's very sad, shocking. I knew of the man. He used to come by every so often. He just seemed like a normal person. He was never any trouble."

Another witness, who did not wish to be named, saw Mr Young stagger along the street clutching his chest before he collapsed. 

Earlier that afternoon he was seen eating at Dooglebud's West Indian Bistro and Lounge Bar, in Whitehorse Road, with Miss Stanley and their child.

"They were sat behind me in the window of the café," a customer said.

"They had some food and then they left. They seemed happy enough."

The events leading to Mr Young's death remain unclear. Several residents described an argument in a children's playground involving a group of young men.

Police cordoned off an alleyway between two blocks of flats in Berney Road – behind the playground. A man living in the flats was told by a police officer that a length of wood, potentially used during the fight, had been found.

Officers returned to the scene on Wednesday night and conducted a second search of the area.

Flowers have been left outside Miss Stanley's home and her family have asked for privacy.

Pastor Ted Brown, of AFB Church in nearby Johnson Road, said the church would be there for anyone who needed support.

He said: "It's quite a peaceful community and what has happened has come as quite a shock. We will be praying for the family and will be there for anyone who needs us."

Police were called to Cromwell Road at around 4.30pm to reports that a group of men, one armed with a knife, were attacking someone.

The Air Ambulance was sent to the scene and Mr Young was found suffering from stab wounds. He was taken to a south London hospital but was pronounced dead at 6.42pm.

The Met's homicide and major crime command are leading the investigation and have appealed for anyone with information to come forward.

Detective Inspector John McQuade said: "We believe the stabbing took place during an altercation that been going on in the area since earlier that afternoon, although we retain an open mind regarding the cause of the dispute.

"I would urge anyone who can help us to piece together events to come forward and contact police as soon as possible."

The police incident room can be reached on 020 8721 4205. To remain anonymous call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111. 

ADVERTISER columnist and Crystal Palace fan ALEX WHITE urges his fellow supporters to cut out the abuse and get behind new boss Neil Warnock...

THEY say in life and football in particular that you should 'never go back'. That saying hasn't stopped Neil Warnock taking the reins at Palace. 

From controversially walking out on the club in 2010, the traditional and certainly outspoken manager once again will call the shots at Selhurst. Warnock left the club while we were mid-administration. Understandably, the way he left divided opinion. Some fans understood his reasons for leaving and agree it was in the best interests of the club. Other Eagles fans will argue that no man should walk away while the club was in such a weak and vulnerable state.

The re-appointment of Warnock will for sure raise eyebrows, both in and out of the world of Crystal Palace. In the last few years Warnock was harshly let go by Queens Park Rangers but also failed to impress with Leeds. The appointment has been received relatively well but if you are one of those fans who are opposing the appointment, I beg you to forgive and forget. 

What has happened in the past has happened but we must move on for the best interests of the club. If we stand any chance of staying in this division, we will need to work as a collective and back the manager. We know as a cohort Palace are at their strongest when everyone is singing off the same hymn sheet. Much like last season, Selhurst needs to be turned into 'Fortress Selhurst' and that is only possible through complete backing of the support.

The first game our new manager will undertake is Newcastle away, bizarrely the same fixture as his first once the club entered administration. It will certainly be a very different flight for Neil and the players as it was back in 2010.

The club's board and Steve Parish in particular have worked tirelessly to make the appointment they deem a right fit for the club. I would like to openly praise Steve and CPFC2010 for all their hard work and dedication. Steve, in particular, has taken some extremely disturbing abuse in recent weeks and its horrific to read. 

To use the social media to attack Steve and his family with aggressive and malicious Tweets is vile to look at and it must stop. These creatures who deem it acceptable are building a bad name for the Palace faithful and they must be reported and banned for their disgusting behaviour. The last manager threw his toys out of the pram and walked away, and a selection of so called 'fans' think it's acceptable to write certain things that they would never say in person.

With a couple of good results these so called 'fans' will go back to praising Steve, like a majority these fans should stick by CPFC2010 through thick and thin. Why? Look at what we've achieved since they've taken over and then think about what you will say. I don't think signing Wilf will harm his standing either!

TRIBUTES to murder victim Adrian Young have been left near to where he was stabbed during a fight.

Friends and family of the 24-year-old have placed flowers and cards outside his girlfriend Lisa Stanley's home in Cromwell Road. 

Mr Young, who was also known as Andre, was attacked on the estate on Tuesday afternoon by three men who chased him into Whitehorse Road where he collapsed.  

Paramedics fought to save his life but he was pronounced dead in hospital later than evening. 

A card left by Miss Stanley's home reads: "Andre is gone but certainly not forgotten. 

"Andre you've lost your life to those cowards but you will always be in our lives forever."

Another tribute says: "Andre, I love you so much words cannot explain how much you are missed. Rest in peace Big Cuzzy. We will meet again soon." 

A murder investigation is underway but no arrests have yet been made. 

Anyone with information is asked to call the police incident room on 020 8721 4205. To remain anonymous call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.  

FORMER Palace boss Iain Dowie believes Steve Parish has gone out and got himself the experienced manager he was looking for in Neil Warnock. And Dowie thinks the 65-year-old will want to prove a point that he could cut it at Premier League level after what happened with Sheffield United in 2007. "In some ways I'm a little bit surprised," he said. "It is a quite sensible choice from Steve Parish, he's taken his time. "He lost a strong character in Tony Pulis but he now has a similarly strong character in Neil. "The good thing for Steve is that Neil may have some unfinished business in the Premier League after what happened at Sheffield United and West Ham. "I think he'll have a point to prove and have these two years and establish himself as a Premier League manager and keeping Palace up. "Steve has gone for an experienced person who knows his way around the football pitch." Meanwhile, Dowie says Warnock will look to play attacking football and that the team has some real leaders to push the club on. "Some of the fans like him from his time there before," he said. "He has a good opinion on the game and generally Neil's teams like to get at you, attacking-wise. "He is positive so I think the fans will like it. Neil is clever enough, he is bright and see what's at the club now. "They are very well organised, have good leadership in the team and proper players like Scott Dann and Mile Jedinak – real men in the team. "Newcastle on Saturday, there's always a good atmosphere up there so what a game for Neil to start his first game. "I wish him well. It won't be easy up there but after that they have some fixtures they'll be looking to pick some points up. "It's a sensible appointment and Steve Parish has got an experienced manager. That's vital in the club's development."

FIVE Year Plan fanzine editor ROBERT SUTHERLAND isn't convinced by the appointment of Neil Warnock - but hopes the fans now get behind the team and move on...

AND so it came to pass – a week and a half of speculation ended on Thursday – with the announcement by the club (via the medium of its main sponsor's twitter account) that Neil Warnock had won the sprint to the management line by a photo finish.

As a supporter, I've accepted the news but with a sense of tired resignation – the departure of Tony Pulis was a shock, the appointment of Warnock doesn't seem entirely convincing. Especially when we consider the unfortunate interlude that was Malky Mackay's would-be appointment and the subsequent fiasco that followed.

What is clear is that Warnock knows Palace. He enjoyed his time with the club previously, almost took the club to the play-off finals, introduced a variety of youth players to the side and is a manager about whom plenty of players have had positive things to say.

Yet, amid all this, there are questions as to whether he really is the right man for the job. The oft-touted issue is that he has never kept a side in the Premier League. Given that Palace have had plenty attempts to do so themselves and only managed it last season, perhaps it would be a bit rich for us to chastise his record.

However, his record at QPR wasn't the most astounding and, while Warnock will complain about Sheffield United's relegation due to Carlos Tevez, their demise was also subject to their poor run of form.

The contrarian in me thinks that Warnock has some unfinished business at the club. Having taken us to the play-offs and with the Eagles looking like a side capable of challenging for promotion once more, the rug was pulled from under the manager's feet by the financial mess that had been created around him.

Some fans will say that he walked out in the club's time of need; a fair response would be that he did so under considerable pressure from the club's administrators, who were concerned by his wages. There were also suggestions that he had been looking for an exit earlier on – the counter-argument would be that, had the club been settled, he would have been more inclined to stay.

Either way, the time has come for the club to once again pull itself together following the most tumultuous spell since our supporters fought for the club's future outside Lloyd's Bank in London. Few gave Palace a chance of even existing at that stage, so the fear of relegation is insignificant in comparison. But one thing is clear – that spirit, the atmosphere of positivity which has carried us through relegation battles, promotions and subsequent Premier League safety – that spirit is needed now more than ever.

There is talk now that we'll see some signings come in, and by the time you read this we may well have one or two already. The news cycle has been focused (with a hint of negativity) at how Palace could possibly recover from Pulis' exit and the upheaval it caused – the club now have a chance to change the narrative and give news organisations and (crucially) supporters, something positive to focus their attention on.

I'll be at Newcastle on Saturday, and I can't wait to give our players the support they deserve. Whether I'm happy about the new manager or not. 

DETAILS of extra support in the borough for victims of domestic violence and abuse were announced this week.

Specialist support workers will now be based at the police custody unit in Windmill Road, West Croydon, and also at Croydon University Hospital.

From this autumn, an independent domestic violence advocate will be based at the police base to help high-risk victims and their children.

Work is also under way to recruit a specialist worker for Croydon University Hospital by the end of September.

The council-funded support officer will be the main point of contact for victims, and will work with them from the point of the incident to assess their level of risk, discuss the range of options available to them and develop safety plans.

Councillor Mark Watson, cabinet member for safety and justice, said: "Domestic violence has a devastating impact on the lives of those who experience it, their families and friends.

"This is why we are working more closely with police colleagues to offer an immediate, on-site support service to victims, which increases their safety and improves their pathways to support."

Victims can contact the Family Justice Centre on 020 8688 0100 or visit www.croydon. gov.uk/community/dabuse/fjcentre

A 14-year-old arrested on suspicion of raping a 19-year-old woman at Reading Festival has been bailed. 

The woman reported she had been raped in a caravan in the traders' area of the festival on August 21.

It is understood she had earlier met a man and a boy in one of the campsites.

A 14-year-old boy and a 31-year-old man were arrested and questioned in custody before being released on bail until October 6.

WITH results day over, students across the borough will soon know – if they do not already – whether they have been accepted into the college or job they were hoping for.

But what their GCSE results say about the state of education in Croydon as a whole is less clear, because a number of schools have yet to share their results.

Several have not released their "headline" score – the number of pupils who achieved at least five A* to C grades including English and maths – while others have not published any figures at all.

Some have not even provided the data to the council - with the rise of the academies, an increasing number do not have to.

The Advertiser asked the authority's press office for results of those that did, only to be told the "unvalidated" information had been given to them on the proviso it would not be made public without the school's "express consent".

"Those who are happy to share with the press at this stage will have done so," a spokesman added.

Their reluctance is perhaps understandable, given the serious consequences that can arise when results fall.

But it means that we do not know for certain how some of the borough's biggest schools – such as St Andrew's and St Mary's high schools – performed.

As a result, it is unclear whether Croydon's overall results have increased for the 11th year in a row, bettering last year's score of 64.4 per cent of pupils achieving at least five 'good' GCSEs, the Government benchmark.

We cannot tell how Croydon is doing compared to the rest of the country, where the headline figure was 68.8 per cent, up 0.7 per cent on last summer, but English results fell sharply.

Roughly three quarters of the town's secondary schools did provide their scores and, among the state schools on that list, an average of 67 per cent of pupils hit the mark.

As well as the examples of individual success highlighted on these pages, there were also encouraging signs at several schools.

There were improvements at Harris Academy Upper Norwood (+14 per cent) which had the lowest results in the borough before it was converted into an academy last year and its name changed from Westwood Girls' College for Language and Arts.

Archbishop Lanfranc – which will reopen as an academy in September – gave its head teacher David Clark a fitting send-off with an eight per cent improvement. There were positives at Riddlesdown, Oasis Academy Shirley Park, among others.

But at Addington High, in New Addington, little over a third (38 per cent) left school this summer with five good GCSEs, 11 per cent lower than in 2013 and below the government's minimum requirement. 

Community schools that fall below the 40 per cent target are converted into academies, but that change has already been forced on Addington High when, in June 2013, it was taken over Bromley's Ravens Wood School after years of underachievement. 

Martin Giles, who begins work as the school's new head teacher on Monday, told the Advertiser that "no stone would be left unturned" in his efforts to revive its fortunes. 

There were surprise results at Coloma Convent Girls School - one of the borough's most respected and top-performing secondaries - which fell by five per cent and its sponsored school, Quest Academy, also posting worse year on year results.

Two Harris Academies – Crystal Palace and South Norwood – were also surprise inclusions on the list of schools whose exam results fell this year.

In all, eight of the 15 state schools to have provided their results did worse this year than in 2013. Performance in the private sector was high.

Exam boards had warned of "volatility" in results due to changes to the exam system which discouraged schools from allowing their pupils to take their exams a year early and reduced the emphasis on coursework.

Without the full data – which will be published by the Department for Education in early 2015 – it is difficult to tell how these changes affected schools in Croydon, if at all.

Woodcote High, in Coulsdon, said it had "weathered" the storm despite posting overall results five per cent lower than last summer.

Head teacher Mark Southworth said vulnerable pupils had suffered as a result of the exam reforms, adding: "While our results represent a real achievement for the vast majority of students, the changes in entry policy instigated by the Government have meant that a number of our most vulnerable students have suffered from not being able to take their exams in smaller units and thus build up their confidence over the whole GCSE course."

Alisa Flemming, cabinet member for children, families and learners on Croydon Council, said changes to assessments were a factor in the "big variations" in results at some schools.

"This makes a direct comparison with last year difficult and it is better to compare this year's figure with other similar local authority areas," she said.

"Some schools have marking issues to deal with, and the overall picture is still to be seen. But However, the early indication is Croydon has done pretty well in comparison to other London boroughs, although we will have to wait a little while to get a clearer idea of everyone's averages."

Cllr Flemming said the council would be analysing the data in detail once it had all the results in.

"We will be paying particular attention in cases where there has been a large fall in performance and, if necessary, looking for ways those schools might seek to reverse this trend," she added.

GCSE results 2014* - % or pupils achieving at least five A* to C grades including English and maths (difference since 2013)

Croydon High School - 100 - N/A

Old Palace of John Whitgift - 100 (+4%)

Trinity School - 100 - (Same)

Royal Russell School - 92 (+18%)

Coloma Convent Girls' School - 90 (-5%)

Harris Academy Purley - 79 (+3%)

Harris City Academy Crystal Palace - 77 (-6%)

Woodcote High - 77 (-5%)

Riddlesdown Collegiate - 74 (+7%)

Archbishop Tenison's CE High - 72 (+4%)

Oasis Academy Shirley Park - 69 (+5%)

Norbury Manor Business and Enterprise College - 67 (+2%)

Thomas More Catholic School - 66 (-14%)

Harris Academy South Norwood - 64 (-12%)

Virgo Fidelis Convent Senior School - 62.5 (-10.5%)

Quest Academy - 56 (-6%)

Harris Academy Upper Norwood - 55 (+14%)

Edenham High School - 50 (-8%)

Archbishop Lanfranc School - 47 (+8%)

Addington High – 38 (-11%) 

*Those schools not on the list have not provided the headline figure

A MAN has been jailed for robbing two women in Croydon at gunpoint with an imitation firearm. 

Benjamin Omoregie, 23, followed an 18-year-old from Norbury train station at 11.20pm on June 15.

When she reached Isham Road he pointed a gun at her and demanded money, bank cards and her PINs.

He told her not to report the robbery to police and to cancel her bank cards the following day. 

Minutes later he threatened a second woman, this time at a bus stop in Wide Way, Mitcham. 

Omoregie, of Middle Road, Streatham, told the 34-year-old he had a gun but did not show her the weapon.

The victim, who feared for her life, handed over her cards, phone and PINs.

Omoregie used her card to withdraw money at a cash point nearby in Northborough Road. 

Police officers then arrived at the scene after being called by the 18-year-old and were looking for Omoregie when the 34-year-old flagged down a police car and explained that she too had been robbed.

Officers searched the area until they noticed a man matching Omoregie's description. They stopped him in Beckway Road and found him in possession of a small handgun. 

He was arrested and charged the following day with robbery and possession of an imitation firearm. 

Forensic officers confirmed that the gun they had recovered was made of plastic. 

They also found a video on Omoregie's phone with instructions on how to spray paint a toy gun.

Omoregie pleaded guilty and was sentenced to four years in prison at Croydon Crown Court on Wednesday (August 27). 

Detective Constable David Thompson said: "Omeregie terrified two innocent women and made them fear for their lives. 

"I hope he takes time behind bars to reflect on what he did that night. 

"This incident also highlights the remarkable acts of professionalism and bravery of patrolling officers who tackle potentially armed and dangerous criminals." 

WILFRIED Zaha appears to have confirmed he has re-joined Crystal Palace by taking to Twitter to declare: "Back!! #CPFC"

The forward, who left Selhurst Park for Manchester United in January 2013, posted the message at 4pm only to delete it a few minutes later, but not before it had been re-tweeted more than 1,000 times.  

The 21-year-old is believed to be on the verge of joining the Eagles on a season-long loan.

Asked by Sky Sports News as he left the club's Beckenham training ground if he was glad to be back, Zaha said: "Yeah I am to be honest – it's a nice vibe."

On whether the deal is done, Zaha added: "It should be – probably done tomorrow."

WELSH Rugby star Ian Gough has been fined £1,050 and ordered to pay £200 compensation for assaulting his ex-partner Sophia Cahill at the South Croydon home of Dane Bowers.

The 37-year-old, capped 64 times by Wales, attacked his Miss Cahill – a former winner of Miss Wales now engaged to Mr Bowers – at the Another Level singer's home in Kingswood Way on January 5 this year.

He was found guilty of assault by beating at a Croydon Magistrates' Court trial on July 29, and was sentenced at the same court today (Thursday).

Prosecutor Christian Wheeliker told the court Gough was returning the couple's two-year-old son, of whom they share custody, from his home in Swansea, when he grabbed Miss Cahill by the shoulders and "flung" her into his van door as she went to pick the toddler from his car seat.

The court heard there had been a series of "acrimonious" communications between the couple before the incident because Gough was running late.

Neither Mr Bowers or Miss Cahill attended the sentencing but Mr Wheeliker read a statement on her behalf, in which she said she needs medication for anxiety and panic attacks she has suffered since the incident.

"This affects her work as a TV presenter and she is on a waiting list for a psychologist. The medication has also left her unable to drive," he said.

Mark Haslam, defending, told the court there was no medical evidence to back up claims made in Miss Cahill's statement and pointed out the attack had not caused her any physical injuries.

"In the first part of the statement she said she is unable to drive due to strong medication, the reality of the situation is that she's perfectly able to drive. Since the trial she has driven to handovers of Gabriel on numerous occasions," he said.

Mr Haslam also said the "humiliation" Gough had suffered from the court case had been a punishment itself.

Sentencing him, chairwoman of the bench Cheryl Southern-Petty said no statutory aggravating factor had been found and there was no evidence of premeditation.

"A child was present, which increases the seriousness but this was an isolated incident," she said.

She added that Gough was of "excellent character".

As well as the fine and compensation Gough was ordered to pay £775 prosecution costs and a victim surcharge of £200 - a total of £2,130.

After the proceedings, the Newport-Gwent Dragons player delivered a short statement outside court.

He said: "While I accept the court has to follow its procedures, I do not accept the guilty conviction against me. I am currently appealing the conviction."

When asked how the case had affected him he added: "I don't really want to get into it, but you've just got to push on."

During the trial Miss Cahill described how the assault had left he "shocked and upset" while Mr Bowers, who witnessed the assault from the living room of his home, sent Gough an angry text which read: "Did you just lay your f****** hands on Sophia?"

Gough and Miss Cahill split up in 2011, while she was pregnant with their son.

WILFRIED Zaha is on the brink of finalising his season-long loan move to Crystal Palace from Mancester United, says new Eagles boss Neil Warnock. The winger trained with Palace today but didn't take part in a game situation as the club look to sort out insurance details for the 21-year-old. The south Londoners are confident of announcing the deal either tonight or tomorrow – and he is set to be named in the squad to face Newcastle United on Saturday. "It's very close," said Warnock. "We've agreed everything, we've just got a few little bits insurance-wise to do and things like that. "The forms are signed our end and I've spoken to Wilfried. He joined in today without any contact because we couldn't risk him getting injured. He's used to that he says! "I think it's a right fit for Wilfried. When you're a young lad and you go to a big club like Manchester United, you can get lost because there are so many good players at a club like that. "He had three or four offers to go elsewhere but as I said to him, when you're a wide player or a forward, when you've got the best part of 15,000 people that love you, you have got a hell of a good chance of having a good season. "I think there is still a lot more to come from him. He's one of those lads who, people criticise him at times or accuse him of not having the right attitude. "I haven't seen that, I've known him since he was a kid and I've always thought his attitude was spot-on. "If you're willing to spend the time with Wilfried, he wants to learn all the time and I think you'll see a different Wilfried. "Hopefully he'll have a really good season."

A MOTORCYCLIST has been injured in a collision with a car on Brighton Road in Purley. 

London Ambulance Service (LAS) were called to the scene, near the junction with Christchurch Road, at around 6pm this evening (Thursday).

Police cordoned off a section of Brighton Road following the incident.

Shaista Khokhar, who was in the nearby Rotary Field when the crash occurred, told the Advertiser: "I heard a big bang and I came to see what had happened. 

"The driver of the car was crying and the man on the bike was bleeding on his leg."

The motorcyclist suffered a leg injury and was taken to St George's Hospital, in Tooting, as a "priority", an LAS spokesperson said.