Kelly reflects on bittersweet Eagles berth

Martin Kelly believes his experiences in the Crystal Palace shirt are leading him to become a better player each day – despite the club’s woeful run of form.

The Eagles have taken the fewest points per game of any team in the Premier or Football Leagues in 2016, most recently losing their last five in the top flight.

And for Kelly, it’s made a return to first-team action a bittersweet experience.

The former Liverpool defender seldom had a chance to show what he was made of at Anfield, making just 50 starts across all competitions in his six years at the club, with the switch to south London two summers ago proving its worth with time on the pitch.

(Photo by Catherine Ivill – AMA/Getty Images)

But Kelly admits it’s an accomplishment he would trade for points on the board, victorious at Selhurst Park just twice in the league since the start of last season.

“It’s been good for me to get a run of games but I wish it had been one where we’d won a few more,” he admitted.

“I’ve played mostly at left-back but I’d play anywhere for this club. I prefer to play right-back, and I hope there’s a point where I play centre-half as I think that’s where I’ll be in the coming years, but right-back is more familiar.

“However I’ll play anywhere in the team – to pull on a Palace shirt is a proud thing.

“I feel like every game is different at left-back, for instance in the game against Liverpool they tried to show me onto my right foot which was difficult, but I feel like I’m improving.”