June 15 2005

Andy Johnson

Crystal Palace striker Andrew Johnson is hoping another free-scoring season in the Championship will be enough to cement his place in Sven Goran Eriksson's World Cup plans, by Stuart Pink.

The England striker, who netted 21 Premiership goals last campaign, has been the subject of intense transfer speculation following the Eagles relegation last month, which has forced both Palace chairman Simon Jordan and manager Iain Dowie to reiterate that the Palace hit man is not for sale.

And Johnson admitted that he will not be seeking a move back to the top flight in order to boost his World Cup chances.

Johnson said: "The main job for me now is to fire us back up into the Premiership. The gaffer has brought in some players and they’re trying to strengthen [the team] so hopefully we can come straight back up.

"I’ve got four years left at Crystal Palace, so until I hear otherwise I am a Crystal Palace player for the next four years."

The 24-year-old revealed that the England manager has not spoken to him about whether playing in the Championship will affect his World Cup chances, but hopes a repeat of last season’s form will make it hard for Eriksson to leave him out.

Johnson said: "No [nothing has been said], but there’s nothing to say. We’ve been relegated and I’ve just got to keep doing what I’ve been doing on the pitch and hope that’s enough to keep me in the England squad."

Johnson made his first England start against the United States in the first of England’s two match American tour at the end of last month and felt he put on a decent performance in England’s 2-1 victory.

Johnson said: "I got a start and felt I did alright. It was a decent game, they were a tough team and it was quite physical for a friendly but the main thing was we won both our games and came away happy.

"It was good to be selected again after pulling out of the last one [squad] and to go with all the best young players in England was quality. I enjoyed it."

But now AJ is focusing his attention on scoring the goals to get Palace back into the top flight and reiterates the importance for his team not to look back and dwell on last season’s disappointments and concentrate on looking ahead.

Johnson said: "Everyone is disappointed, but we can’t look back now. If you keep looking back then we won’t do as well as we want to do in the Championship.

"We need to look forward and that’s what the gaffer and the chairman are doing because they are buying players that are going to strengthen us."

The Palace striker has backed the recent signings made by the Palace board and feels they can add further quality to an already talented squad that are well equipped to make an instant return to the top flight.

Johnson added: "They’re good players. Jobi McAnuff’s a great player. [Jon] Macken has obviously played in the Premiership so he’ll have good experience and [Darren] Ward will tighten us up at the back.

"But we were a good team last year in the Premiership and if we can continue our performances from last year in the Championship we will be fine."