WANT-away winger Mark Yeates is intent on leaving Colchester United, despite failing a medical on an impending move to Crystal Palace.Highly-rated Dubliner Yeates wants to stay in the Championship, following the U's relegation to League One at the end of last season.

Carl Marston

WANT-away winger Mark Yeates is intent on leaving Colchester United, despite failing a medical on an impending move to Crystal Palace.

Highly-rated Dubliner Yeates wants to stay in the Championship, following the U's relegation to League One at the end of last season.

Palace have been leading the chase to snap up the ex-Tottenham trainee this summer, with fellow Championship clubs Nottingham Forest and Watford also linked with the U's star man.

Outspoken Palace boss, Neil Warnock, has admitted that he has spoken to Yeates about a switch to Selhurst Park, but that the deal has now been put on ice following a failed medical.

Yeates was struck down by a shoulder injury during the 2-2 home draw against Sheffield United on February 2. It was the second time that the 23-year-old had dislocated a shoulder in the last couple of years, and the injury was so serious that he required an operation.

Wide-man Yeates, who can operate down either flank, had contributed eight goals before the turn of the year, many of them via long-range free-kicks, but he did not play again after sustaining his shoulder problem.

Palace manager Warnock confirmed: "We've spoken to Mark about a move, but he has a major problem with his shoulder.

'It's something that needs to be sorted out. We won't know now for another three to four weeks."

It appears, therefore, that Warnock remains keen on signing Yeates, despite the current question mark over his fitness.

Yeates was a key figure in the U's promotion-winning season of 2005-06, when he played in 44 of the U's 46 league games during a year-long loan spell from Tottenham.

Ironically, he missed the crunch final game of that campaign, away at Yeovil, after dislocating his shoulder while celebrating his goal with an injudicious dive in the previous fixture - a 2-0 home win over Rotherham.

The 2006-07 season was a disappointing one for the Republic of Ireland B international. He made only 14 league appearances all term, during loan stints at Hull and Leicester, before completing a permanent move to Colchester for an undisclosed six-figure fee last summer.

The U's relegation to League One has left Yeates seeking a move away from the Essex club. It seems that only his crocked shoulder is holding him back.