Alan Pardew says Patrick Bamford is still settling in at Selhurst Park after the Chelsea loanee was substituted in last night’s 4-1 win over Shrewsbury.

As expected the Eagles boss made nine changes for the League Cup tie, with Bamford handed his first start since joining on a season-long loan from Stamford Bridge.

The 21-year-old has enjoyed prolific loan spells with MK Dons, Derby and Middlesbrough prior to his arrival at Selhurst.

But last night he struggled to make an impact and was replaced by Glenn Murray after 74 minutes, leaving the SE25 manager to acknowledge the striker still has some way to go if he is to secure a regular starting spot.

Pardew said: “I didn’t think he had his best night but he’s a good player.

“He’s finding the level here is a little bit higher than Middlesbrough to get into that team.

“And when you’re not playing week in, week out like he was at Middlesbrough, it’s hard for young players.

“I felt a little bit sorry for him tonight. He wasn’t at his best.”

Matt Toole gave the Shrews a shock early lead but Dwight Gayle’s penalty late in the first half ensured the tie went to extra-time.

Bamford had already departed by then and it was his replacement Murray who put the Eagles in front with their second spot-kick of the evening.

Further efforts from Lee Chung-yong and Wilfried Zaha saw the Premier League hosts pull well clear of their League One opponents in the end to secure a south-east London derby meeting with Charlton.

But the 120 minutes of midweek action gave Pardew a few injury scares, with Mile Jedinak top of his concerns ahead of Saturday’s visit to Chelsea.

The manager said: “I’m a little bit worried about the skipper.

“He might have done a hamstring but we will have to wait and see.

“Dwight Gayle came off just as a precaution because he was cramping up and Wilfried Zaha the same.

“Those two will be OK for the weekend.”