IAN Holloway feels new signing Jerome Thomas has what it takes to become a Crystal Palace star this season.

The Eagles boss is no stranger to the player, having previously worked with him during a loan spell at QPR from Arsenal when Thomas was still a youngster.

Back in 2002 the duo didn’t always see eye-to-eye at Loftus Road, but since then Thomas has gone on to become an established Premier League player having represented Charlton, Portsmouth and West Brom in the top flight.

And Holloway feels the vastly experienced 30-year-old summer addition from the Hawthorns is exactly what is needed to fill the gap left by the departing Wilfried Zaha.

The Selhurst chief explained: “When I had him before, he was only 18 and we had some differences of opinion.

“But not now, not now you see how mentally prepared he is.

“It’s as if he's hit another level and it’s brilliant to have him.

“He’s turned into a fantastic player in my opinion because I've never seen a player that can consistently beat players like he does.

“He has such professionalism and I think the way Jerome plays will make him a star at Palace.”

Thomas himself is still playing catch-up in his fitness, and therefore wasn’t named in the Palace squad which travelled to Victoria Road for Saturday’s 2-1 win over Dagenham & Redbridge.

Holloway instead handed trials to five players including ex-Arsenal and Portsmouth winger Quincy Owusu-Abeyie and former Austrian U21 striker Atdhe Nuhiu, who put Palace 1-0 up.

The 6ft6in Austrian looked a threat throughout, with Daggers keeper Chris Lewington having to be at his very best to deny the striker.

But Nuhui finally got his just reward after the half-hour mark.

Some neat play down the right wing from Quincy Owusu-Abeyie left the Ghanaian in space and his pass across the box was too tempting to turn down for Nuhiu as he stuck out an outstretched leg and slid a shot past the sprawling keeper.

Nuhiu certainly made the right impression, but Holloway refused to be drawn on whether a full-time deal was on the cards.

The gaffer said: “It would be totally unfair for me to make any decisions today, so I may use some of them again on Tuesday against Gillingham - if their agents will let me.

“That's the first game for these players and you shouldn't judge anybody on their first game.

“They've bedded in well with the squad and I quite like them as people, so it's likely that I'll have some tough decisions to make.”

Follow @NewsShopperSprt on Twitter for updates from Gillingham v Crystal Palace on Tuesday evening.