BOSS Eddie Howe insisted Emmanuel Adebayor would boost the Crystal Palace frontline before warning: “All transfers are a gamble.”

Former Arsenal and Manchester City striker Adebayor joined Palace on a free transfer last week having been released by Tottenham in September.

Eagles manager Alan Pardew has revealed plans to give the Adebayor his debut against Cherries tonight (8pm), potentially the Togo international’s first Premier League appearance since May last year.

And Howe is well aware of the threat posed by the towering frontman, who has 96 goals in the English top flight to his name, and also spent time at Real Madrid and Monaco.

Howe told the Daily Echo: “He’s a top-quality player – there is no doubt about that with his track record.

“He is very good at Premier League level and I think he will complement what Crystal Palace have. They have had a couple of injury concerns in forward areas so he boosts their frontline.

“It will be interesting to see how involved he gets, whether he starts or is on the bench but whoever they play, they have quality.

“I think all transfers are a gamble, so yes, there is an element of a gamble but every time we go into the transfer market it’s the same.

“Every manager hopes every signing he makes will have a huge impact and this is one that could do that for them.

"With a player of that quality, I don’t think there is still any doubt he can still deliver, it’s just about where he is at this moment in terms of his fitness.”

Howe admitted that the battle on the flanks at Selhurst Park presented an intriguing prospect, with Palace renowned for their flair and creativity on both the left and right sides of the pitch.

The boss added: “In wide areas they are very strong. I think we are aware of their threats there and also from set plays. They are a strong, physical side and have a lot of lads that attack the ball really well.

“They have pace and any team with pace is a threat in the Premier League on the counter-attack and certain situations.

“I think they are a very hard-working side and they have got a real identity so for all those reasons mixed together, that’s why they have been very strong this season.

“I’d say we’re slightly different in how we attack to them. I’d say they are very strong individually and while of course we have talented individuals, we play in partnerships.

“Partnerships between wide men and full-backs are very important to us.

“It’s an interesting dynamic between the two sides but both methods are very effective.”

Palace have won just one of their past seven Premier League games, a run which started with a 0-0 draw at Vitality Stadium on Boxing Day.

Pardew's side have slipped to 11th in the table but are just six points behind fifth-placed Manchester United and are 10 points clear of the drop zone.