Beckford and Vaughan are ready to lift Town

Injuries mean the pair have started just three games together – scoring three goals in the process – and Simon Grayson admits to looking forward to his first-choice partnership being reunited over the Christmas period.

“Both Jermaine and James have delivered when in the team,” said Grayson, who saw Beckford return from a hamstring problem to play the final half-hour of last weekend’s defeat to Hull City alongside Vaughan.

“So, of course, it will be great to have them both back as we are talking about two experienced performers who both have loads of quality.

“When we have had our full compliment of players available, we have claimed some impressive results. I don’t just mean the strikers but right through the team.”

Vaughan has four goals to his name from 11 appearances for Town, while Beckford boasts three from seven.

With Alan Lee starting a three-game suspension for elbowing Alex Bruce last weekend and Lee Novak having struggled at the KC Stadium, Grayson seems set to turn to his two main strikers.

The Town chief said: “Once I had seen the footage (of Lee elbowing Bruce off the ball), I knew we couldn’t do anything about preventing Alan from being banned.

“He was foolish and must now sit out a run of games. He has also faced internal disciplinary action.”

Town travel to Crystal Palace for today’s tea-time kick-off looking to arrest a winless run of six games.

It will not be easy, however, with the Eagles arguably being the surprise package of this season’s Championship under, first, Dougie Freedman and now Ian Holloway.

Grayson said: “Palace are the perfect example of what the Championship is all about. They lost three or four games at the start of the season but have since been on an incredible run.

“It is impossible to say if they will stay where they are but the positive for Palace is the attacking players Ian Holloway has. Glenn Murray has scored a lot of goals, while everyone knows what Wilfred Zaha can do.”