October 6 2009

Darren Ambrose

When Darren Ambrose made the £1m switch to Newcastle at the tender age of 19 he seemed to have the football world at his feet, writes Nicholas Gentry.

Now he's 25 and rebuilding his career at Selhurst Park after failing to fulfil his early potential at Newcastle and Charlton over the past six years.

The former under-21 international made his summer move across South London after several meetings with Palace manager Neil Warnock, who managed to convince the sought-after free agent that he was the man to help him realise that early potential.

On the announcement of the signing Warnock said: "All I am asking him to do is play with a smile on his face because I think he has been down in the doldrums the last couple of years."

Three months and 10 games into the season and Ambrose is excelling himself in the Palace midfield, scoring six goals and impressing the Palace faithful. He’s brought with him a creativity and a guile in the final third aswell as a genuine goal threat from midfield.

A player of his ilk is what Selhurst has been missing over the past few years, where chance creation and the spreading of goals around the squad has been a serious problem.

Saturday's 4-1 victory over Blackpool typified Ambrose's performances so far this term as he produced a fine lobbed finish as he broke through the Blackpool backline to ensure victory for the Eagles at a time when the seasiders well on top.

With the three points secured and with three wins in four games, Palace now find themselves looking up the table towards the play-offs and Ambrose is enjoying his football again

"I am enjoying myself again, It was a bad year last year with results and performances but I am back now and scoring goals, so I am really pleased,” said Ambrose.

It also seems the player puts a lot of that upturn in form down to his new manager: "He is a fantastic man manager and he is renowned for bringing the best out of people, I am enjoying playing under him and he is enjoying working with me, so it is a good relationship at the moment and I hope it stays that way,” said Ambrose.

It was an impressive result and it seems the Football league were suitably impressed with Ambrose's performance as he was personally rewarded with a place in the Coca-Cola Championship team of the week; the second Palace player in a week to be included.

But Championship defences are being warned that they are yet to see the best of him. He said: "I think there is more to come me still performance wise. I will try and get on the ball a bit more, but I am really enjoying it."

Palace fans will certainly be chomping at the bit with the thought of the attacking midfielder terrorising defences for the remainder of the season and continuing the side’s upturn in fortunes.