Palace criticism taken out of context - Bamford

Patrick Bamford has claimed that his comments about his frustrating loan spell at Crystal Palace were "taken completely out of context".

The Chelsea striker did not make a single Premier League start for Alan Pardew's men this term and deciced to cut short the season-long deal following Monday's 0-0 draw with Swansea City.

After that game, Bamford was quoted as saying that the experience had been "terrible", while he also seemed to criticise Pardew and fellow centre-forward Connor Wickham, who Bamford noted had continually retained his place in the team despite scoring only one goal in nine appearances.

But the 22-year-old, who scored 17 times on loan at Middlesbrough in the Championship last season, insists his words were not fairly represented.

"My comments after the game at the weekend were taken completely out of context and for that I want to apologise," he said in a statement posted on Twitter.

"I've really enjoyed my time at Palace, the lads were brilliant, the gaffer and training were great.

"I want to thank the chairman as I couldn't have been at a nicer club, I'm just disappointed I couldn't do more for the team but wish them all the best for the second half of the season and thank the fans for their amazing support every weekend."

Bamford will now return to parent club Chelsea but could be loaned out again in the January transfer window.