SPARE a though for James Vaughan, formerly of this parish and currently nursing a sore hand and even sorer ego.

The out on loan forward apparently broke his hand when he punched a dressing room wall in anger after his current club Crystal Palace’s home defeat by rivals Scunthorpe United.

Now Vaughan has never had any luck with injuries, and should be the last person who will want to consign himself to the treatment table with self-inflicted ailments.

The news that Palace fear being without him for their crucial run in as they try to avoid relegation from the npower Championship will be a blow to manager Dougie Freedman.

Freedman talked Vaughan into making the step-down to kick start his career and has been delighted with the striker’s form.

Typically though, it is not the fractured bone in his hand that looks like ruling Vaughan out, but damage to his ankle.

“James reacted out of frustration and there was an incident that saw him damage his hand," said Freedman. "It looks like he has broken a bone but he can play with that. It's the ankle that is a sore and if anything stops him playing it will be that."

Vaughan probably feels daft for his outburst, but he is also entitled to feel aggrieved by his ongoing injury jinx in general.