Crystal Palace are latest Premier League club to explore India for emerging talent. India has never produced a Premier League player but the level of football in the country is improving and Palace have taken steps to check out the talent on the subcontinent.

They held trials in Mumbai for around 350 players in December and one teenager was invited to join up with Palace in April. Dhruvmil Pandya was flown to London to spend a week with the club and train with their academy. He met Alan Pardew, played in an academy match and took in a game at Selhurst Park. Pandya, recently selected to represent India Under-17s, impressed coaches in the academy set-up and the club will keep an eye on his development.

Palace recently met the eight ISL clubs and there could be scope to form a partnership with one of them. The club are keen to keep ties with India but there are obstacles preventing players without an EU passport from obtaining a work permit.

Former Eagles striker Mark Bright saw enough during his time in India to believe the country, which has a population of 1.1billion, will produce players if the game takes off.

"Cricket is so big out there but there is a place for football," he said.

"Hopefully there will be a time when there will be an influx of players from every continent."

Pandya, who has become an ambassador for Palace in an attempt to inspire others, added: "Everyone knows how to hold a bat in India but you need to teach people how to play football. But the young generation is getting behind football more and more and Indians can play. We just need a chance."