June 5 2014

Dwight Gayle

Crystal Palace keeper JULIAN SPERONI is backing Dwight Gayle cause a storm next season.

Gayle ended the season as Palace's top scorer with seven goals despite spending most of the campaign out of the starting XI.

The striker made the headlines for coming off the bench against Liverpool and hitting a brace in Palace's thrilling 3-3 comeback against title-chasing Liverpool.

The club's goal-of-the-season award went his way after he bagged a brilliant long-range strike in a last-minute win at Aston Villa.

SPERONI, who picked up the player of the year prize, has told the 23-year-old to be patient and a regular place in the side will follow.

"Of course, you know we all had to be patient. We all went through that," said the Argentine stopper.

"It was the same for me when I first came to the club and I think professional players, they always go through times when you are not in the team. You need to be patient.

"You need to work really, really hard to get that chance. And Gayle, he showed every time we needed him, you know he performs. He did the job for us. He was fantastic at times.

"He came off the bench and scored very important goals for us, obviously you know one of the goals of the season for me Aston Villa. He’s done a great job for us. Obviously, yeah, he will have his chance.

"I had to wait two years for a proper chance in the team and I knew I had to be ready.

"So I worked so, so hard, so when that came I would be able to take it. Luckily that’s what happened."