Puncheon calls for Crystal Palace to step up to “the next level”

His side may currently be managerless but Crystal Palace stalwart Jason Puncheon has called on his team to step up to bigger and better things next season.

Palace found themselves embroiled in a battle for Premier League survival last season but Sam Allardyce successfully kept the Eagles away from danger before resigning in May – former Inter Milan and Ajax boss Frank De Boer is the favourite to replace him.

Winger Puncheon, who is heading into his fifth season at Selhurst Park, believes that Palace can garner a bit more success this time around, as long as they apply themselves correctly.

“Reflecting on it, the season was a tale of two halves – we got off to a difficult start and then picked up some results but needed a good second half of the season to get us safe,” said the 30-year-old.

(Photo by Matthew Lewis/Getty Images)

“During that second half, the results we put together galvanised us as a group and got us over the line.

“We had tremendous results over Chelsea, Arsenal and Liverpool but the end of season points total showed how vital those victories were for us all.

“We know, going into this season, we must start better than what we did last year and put the negatives behind us.

“That was last season though and now need to move on and believe that we are better than that as a group, and be ready to have a good year and show how the squad can move the club onto the next level.”