Tony Popovic is back at Crystal Palace

Tony Popovic will take over as Crystal Palace first-team coach in time for the visit to Coventry on Saturday.

Popovic, who played 123 times in a five-year stint at Selhurst Park, was assistant manager at Sydney FC but was convinced to return to South London by Palace manager and former team-mate Dougie Freedman.

"He is a good friend of mine and we have been in constant contact since he left, doing our coaching badges together and his ideas are the same as mine," said Freedman, who was appointed Palace boss last month.

"He knows the club and can get off and running straight away. He is a good guy and he thinks the same as me in terms of what we can achieve at this club."