Marouane Chamakh puts the accent on goals

MAROUANE CHAMAKH has battled through the language barrier to become an unexpected Premier League hit.

GOAL HERO: Marouane Chamakh [PA]

Crystal Palace manager Tony Pulis admits his Welsh accent has left the Moroccan striker baffled at times.
But Pulis has somehow managed to get his message across to the former Arsenal and West Ham man. For a long while it seemed as though understanding a South Wales twang was the least of Chamakh's problems this side of the channel.

After struggling to make his mark since arriving in England in 2010, Chamakh is finally showing why he was a long-term target for Arsene Wenger before switching from Bordeaux.

The striker has led Palace's recent revival with two crucial goals in the back-to-back wins that have fired the Eagles' survival hopes. And his strike rate this season of three goals from just four shots is the best in the top flight. Pulis said: "He is a good lad and as long as I don't speak too quickly, then he understands me.
"My accent isn't too bad, I've been in England since I was 16!
"Technically he is a very good player - he's so gifted and what supporters want to see is their players running around and having a go."