Crystal Palace boss Neil Warnock is still hopeful a deal can be struck to land Chelsea forward Scott Sinclair, but he is not holding out for any help from South London rivals Charlton.

Sinclair, 18, joined the Addicks on loan at the end of February in a bid to pick up more first team experience, but the former Bristol Rovers youngster struggled to break into the first team and did not even make the squad for the 2-0 defeat at Ipswich last week.

And Warnock - who tried to sign Sinclair in February only to be snubbed for Alan Pardew's side - is still eyeing a compromise to allow the England Under-21 starlet a spell at Selhurst Park.

"I don't think we'll be able to get him because the first month of his loan at Charlton doesn't finish until after the deadline," Warnock said of the chance of a straightforward temporary transfer.

"I did speak to him before he went there, told him he could play every game with us, but obviously they thought Charlton was a bigger fish and - I suppose in the position they were in - they were a bigger fish.

"But he hasn't played much has he? And that's what he went out for - games. It's a shame when I see that because he could have played every game for us."

Chelsea themselves are likely to be disappointed that the player is not seeing more competitive action and would be amenable to sending him to Palace, who have risen to seventh under Warnock, just outside the play-off places and one point ahead of Charlton, who themselves have slipped from title contenders to ninth after a woeful run of recent form.

However, any deal to bring Sinclair - who can also play a winger - to Palace would also be dependent on the Addicks agreeing to release him, something which Warnock is not sweating on.

"I don't know if Chelsea can recall him, I don't think they can for the first 28 days," the former Sheffield United manager mused.

"Normally you sign for three months but [Chelsea] can have a 24 hour recall, in case they get an injury, or I think they can mutually call him back after 28 days if all three parties are in agreement.

"But that's the only chance we've got of having him - so I don't expect any help before Thursday [March 27]."

The Championship loan deadline expires on Friday March 28, with Sinclair having signed exactly a month previously, on February 28.

Reda Maher / Eurosport