Wednesday 6 December 2017 16:14, UK
Crystal Palace winger Jason Puncheon told Soccer AM that he is loving representing his hometown club.
The 27-year-old grew up in Croydon and now plays there in the Premier League after joining Palace, last term's Championship play-off winners, on loan from Southampton.
Puncheon says he did not hesitate when handed the opportunity to sign for the Eagles, not only because of the club's location but also because of the Londoners' manager, Ian Holloway, whom he played under during a temporary stint at Blackpool.
And the former Barnet, Plymouth, and MK Dons attacker believes that despite the Selhurst Park side sitting in the lower reaches of the top flight at present, they will improve as the season progresses.
Ollie made it all happen so quickly and he was a massive factor in me going to Palace.
"I was born and raised in Croydon and played for Crystal Palace when I was eight or nine, so when I got the chance to play for them I couldn't turn it down," said Puncheon.
"But the fact Ollie [Holloway] was there made it all happen so quickly and he was a massive factor in me going there, too.
"It is a learning curve for everybody at Palace as not a lot of our players have played in the Premier League but I think we are only going to get better."
Puncheon has made 65 league appearances for parent team Southampton but his career on the South Coast included a lengthy spell out of the first-team reckoning after a falling out with ex-Saints boss and current Reading chief Nigel Adkins.
However, Puncheon - who is contracted to the St Mary's Stadium outfit until 2016 - says he has no ill-feeling towards anybody at Southampton, describing the club as a "fantastic place to be."
"I know everybody there from the chairman down to the manager," said the wideman. "I still speak to everybody even though I'm not there as it is a fantastic place to be.
"Things happened behind the scenes but I was happy there - but sometimes you have to make decisions [and that's why I joined Palace].
To hear more from Puncheon, including his memories of his infamous call of nature whilst playing for Southampton against Everton, hit the video above.
