Former Carlisle United loan star John-Kymani Gordon has returned to Crystal Palace following a loan spell in League One.

The striker had spent the first half of the season with United's fellow strugglers Cambridge United.

But Gordon struggled to make a lasting impact at the Abbey Stadium in his half-season move.

And the 20-year-old has now gone back to Palace.

Gordon made just two league starts in his time at 19th-placed Cambridge, and 19 appearances in total without scoring.

His switch to the Abbey followed his time with Carlisle in the second half of last season.

Gordon, with the Blues, scored twice in 17 appearances and started in the League Two play-off final victory over Stockport County at Wembley.

He also played an influential role in United's fightback in their semi-final against Bradford City, forcing the own-goal opener at Brunton Park which got Carlisle back in the tie.

Gordon's goals for the Cumbrians came early into his spell against Newport County and Rochdale.

News and Star: JK Gordon scored twice in last season's Carlisle loan spellJK Gordon scored twice in last season's Carlisle loan spell (Image: Richard Parkes)

In the summer Paul Simpson initially suggested he was interested in bringing the pacy forward back to Carlisle.

But a deal never materialised and, as Gordon went to Cambridge, United instead turned to one of Gordon's Selhurst Park team-mates in Luke Plange.

He has also since returned to his parent club after a half-season spell with Carlisle - who have since brought in another Palace prospect in defender Seán Grehan, who is on a half-season loan.

Simpson, meanwhile, is continuing efforts to add to his squad having made three additions this month so far in Grehan, Luke Armstrong and Harrison Neal.

Goalkeeper remains a priority position for the Cumbrians, with Carlisle having been pursuing a number of potential targets in recent weeks.

Simpson, speaking to the News & Star earlier this week, said he was hoping to make progress on "a couple" of possible deals in the build-up to Saturday's clash with Oxford United at Brunton Park.