EXCLUSIVE
Andros Townsend has revealed why he chose to join Crystal Palace this summer.
The winger - who joined from Newcastle for £13m this month - made his bow for Palace on Wednesday night as the Eagles kicked off their pre-season tour of the USA with a goalless draw at Philadelphia Union.
Townsend was probably Palace's best player on the night, creating chances and revelling on the wing behind Freddie Ladapo, winning Man of the Match. He added that Eagles' style of encouraging wing play was the reason he signed.
"It's the way they play," he told FYP's Matt Webb at the Talen Energy Stadium after the 0-0 draw. "Last season you saw the way that Yannick and Wilf excelled in the wide areas and how the team played to their strengths and I knew that if I played as well as I did for Newcastle I'd excel here and I'm looking forward to seeing how that pans out."
Andros Townsend is also eyeing a return to the England squad after joining Crystal Palace, admitting he was "gutted' he didn't get a place in the Three Lions team for Euro 2016.
"I'm not going to lie, I was gutted that I didn't make the cut," he added. "But everything happens for a reason. I got a good rest over the summer and I've come back flying back in the Premier League with Palace and hopefully I can make an impression this season to get back into the England squad."
Here are the highlights from #CPFC's pre-season opener against @PhilaUnion. #CPFCTOUR16https://t.co/v0Blls6FAz
— Crystal Palace F.C. (@CPFC) July 14, 2016
And he wants to chip in with goals too. He added: "At the end of last season with Newcastle, I was someone who contributed with goals and assists and that's why the manager has brought me here and I'm looking to do that again whenever I get the opportunity.
"That'll come. It was my first game in a Palace shirt, maybe they don't know when I'm going to cross it or what I'm going to do so they can't judge their runs, but like I said that'll come with game time, the next game or the game after that the strikers will start reading me and get on the end of my crosses."
But getting that first run out under his belt and impressing Palace's ever growing American fanbase was a pleasing experienced for the Townsend.
"It felt really good, but it's only pre-season and it'd feel a lot better in the first game of the Premier League pulling on that shirt as a starting player.
"The supporters [in Philadephia] were fantastic, they were the same in the open training session - they all came down in their numbers to watch us. We just have to thank everyone for their support. And hopefully they can continue it into Cinncinati [on Saturday].
"I know they're a long way away from us but just know their support is appreciated, for sure. We understand as players now, we come away in pre season to all these countries and see the support we have that it's a global game and we appreciate support across the globe."