January 29 2008

Shefki Kuqi

Shefki Kuqi has described former Crystal Palace manager Peter Taylor's reign as "negative".

Taylor brought Kuqi to the club in August 2006 but the striker has failed to live up his £2.5million price tag.

The manager fell out with a number of first team players during his awful spell in charge and sent Kuqi on loan to Fulham.

With Taylor getting sacked, Kuqi admits he's delighted to be working with new boss Neil Warnock on his return to Selhurst Park.

"When I left (for Fulham) I wasn't the only player that wanted to leave, others wanted to as well," said Kuqi.

"But coming back now, no players want to leave and that tells me everything. That time, everything was so negative. But a new manager comes in and lifts everything up.

"It's like being at a new club. Everything is different, the atmosphere, everything around the club and it shows as we've gone 15 games unbeaten.

"That shows what kind of change it has been. Neil Warnock just wants me to play the way that people know I can play and he thinks I can do a job for him, and so do I.

"But the lads have done an unbelievable job so far and I'm just going to work hard and wait for my chance to come."

Kuqi's first game back was from off the bench in the 1-0 defeat to Leicester on Monday night when he couldn't breach the Foxes defence.

With spirit in the camp at an all-time high, 31-year-old Kuqi is hoping to find his scoring touch again.

He said: "Everybody seems to be happy, laughing and joking. That is what it is all about. Whatever job you do you've got to enjoy it.

"It's no good if you come in, in a bad mood, and think "here we go again" But not here. Everybody comes early and is ready to work."