Sunderland and Republic of Ireland striker Anthony Stokes has joined Crystal Palace on loan until the end of the season.

The former Arsenal player has featured just three times for Sunderland this season and has already spent some time on loan to Sheffield United, where he played 12 games.

The Dubliner now faces the task of helping Neil Warnock’s side avoid relegation in the Championship. The Londoners are currently 14th in the league.

For Stokes, it will be an opportunity to resurrect what was once a very promising career and prove to international manager Giovanni Trapattoni that he may be worth another look.

He has played three times for Ireland but has yet to feature for the Italian, earning his last cap against Bolivia under Stephen Staunton in May 2007.