In the January transfer window, Crystal Palace were linked with a move for KRC Genk forward Mbwana Samatta, a man who scored 32 goals last season and also netted at Anfield against Liverpool this term.

However, The Evening Standard revealed that the south Londoners decided to pull out of the running for the Tanzania international, before he eventually joined Aston Villa in a deal worth just £8.5m.

Since he made the switch to Villa Park, the 27-year-old's early form suggests he would've fared quite well for Roy Hodgson.

Samatta scored on his Premier League debut with a towering header against Bournemouth, a game in which he also made two key passes and had three shots on goal, while winning a huge five aerial duels in total.

Unfortunately, his strike couldn't get Dean Smith's side a result, and the Tanzanian also delivered a decent showing against Tottenham despite watching his teammates come away with nothing once again after Heung-min Son's late winner.

Against Jose Mourinho's men, Samatta again recorded two key passes and also won three aerial duels this time, while again having three shots but registering two dribbles on this occasion.

Across those two games, he has played 173 minutes in total, tallying up six shots, four key passes, eight successful aerial duels and a goal - he averages a shot every 28.8 minutes.

Seeing as Hodgson's men have netted the fewest goals in the Premier League this season with 23 goals in 26 outings, it feels like they could've done with someone like Samatta who clearly isn't afraid to have a go at scoring.

The Eagles have also had the fewest shots on target in England's top-flight this term with 79 attempts on goal, so they are clearly shy of taking efforts on goal.

There is still a long way to go for Samatta in English football and he still has a job on his hands to keep the Villans in the Premier League, but the early signs from his first two appearances suggest that he would've been worth a gamble from Palace's Sporting Director Dougie Freedman, especially for such a low price.

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