Holloway wants to revive Chamakh career

Ian Holloway wants to help reignite Marouane Chamakh’s career as the striker prepares to complete a move to Crystal Palace.

The 29-year-old joined Arsenal from Bordeaux in 2010, but after scoring seven goals in 29 league appearances in his debut season, he has featured just 23 times in all competitions since.

After spending the previous campaign on loan at West Ham, it now looks likely that the Morocco international will complete a switch to Palace – with reports suggesting that he completed a medical on Friday.

And Holloway is keen to help him back to his best.

“It’s about him getting going again and I normally do all right with people whose careers are faltering,” Holloway told the Daily Mail after the 1-0 pre-season defeat against Lazio on Saturday.

“I love them and work with them. Hopefully I can get him back to what he played like when he first went to Arsenal.

“There was nothing wrong with him when he scored eight in nine. But I wouldn’t fancy being Robin van Persie’s understudy. It couldn’t have been fun.”

The deal, which looks likely to be finalised next week, will mark Holloway’s seventh new addition of the close-season.