THOMAS Myhre will be handed the task of keeping Crystal Palace hot-shot Andy Johnson quiet this afternoon but, had things gone a little differently in the summer, the Sunderland shot-stopper could have been part of the opposition ranks.

The Norway international spent three months of last season on loan at Selhurst Park, making 16 appearances as Palace embarked on a revival that would eventually take them all the way to the Premiership.

With little chance of dislodging Mart Poom from Sunderland's number one spot, Myhre spent the early part of the summer locked in discussions with Palace over a permanent move.

But, with Sunderland willing to let the 31-year-old move for nothing, the deal collapsed when the two parties were unable to agree personal terms.

After returning to Wearside, Myhre looked like spending the whole of this season on the sidelines until Poom suffered a serious knee problem in mid-October.

The Norwegian has been between the sticks ever since but, with Palace visiting the Stadium of Light in the FA Cup third-round today, his thoughts will inevitably turn to what might have been.

"There was a lot of talk about me going there permanently and we talked in the summer about a move," admitted Myhre, whose current contract expires at the end of the season.

"I was about as close as you could possibly get to moving, but it didn't happen and I've come back to Sunderland.

"I'm 31 now and I've been in football a long time. I know that these sorts of things can happen in football. You just have to get on with it.

"They are a Premiership side now, but I don't have any regrets. It didn't happen, but I'm delighted to be playing for Sunderland and I always have been."

When Myhre first joined Palace, they were hovering just above the relegation zone at the wrong end of the First Division.

But, by the time he left in January, the Eagles were soaring and, eventually, they would sneak into the play-offs on the final day of the season.

The rest is, of course, history, with Ian Dowie's side edging out the Black Cats in a nail-biting play-off semi-final before seeing off West Ham to book their place in the top flight.

"When I went there in October they were one point off relegation," said Myhre, who admitted it was strange to watch his former team-mates end Sunderland's play-off hopes in May.

"When I left, three months later, they had a chance of getting into the play-offs.

"They went on an amazing run of results. It was still a surprise that they got into the play-offs because I don't think anyone expected them to after the start they had.

"They got a new manager in and the confidence came back. I have a lot of respect for him (Dowie). He demands 100 per cent from his players."

Dowie has been a remarkable success since swapping the dressing room for the dug-out, with his uncompromising style helping to cultivate a strong team ethic amongst his players. Myhre feels there are definite similarities between the Palace boss and his Sunderland counterpart, and is confident McCarthy can emulate Dowie by guiding the Black Cats into the Premiership.

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