Jason Puncheon enjoying being Crystal Palace captain
Wednesday 10 May 2017 13:51, UK
Crystal Palace midfielder Jason Puncheon says his new role as captain is just as important as scoring goals.
Puncheon told the Palace fanzine Five Year plan Podcast that wearing the captain's armband was extra motivation to achieve success.
"As far as I'm concerned as soon as I cross that white line the only thing I want to do is achieve a win and if I can help everyone around me, even if I'm not having the best of games, if I have done that then I have done my job," said Puncheon.
"I just try to be myself, which I've always been, a character to talk to people, help people, some people need to get lifted in different ways. I just always try to be me."
Puncheon's captaincy has coincided with a change of fortune for Palace with the club winning five out of the first six games he wore the armband but Sam Allardyce's side are still not mathematically safe yet from relegation. However, if they can avoid defeat on Sunday against Hull, live on Sky Sports, it will mean they will guarantee a fifth season in the Premier League.
"For me, the most important thing is about us staying up and I think we are ready to do that on Sunday," Puncheon added.
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One aspect of Puncheon's game he will hope to improve at the weekend is scoring goals. Puncheon has yet to find the net this season, his last goal for Palace came in last season's FA Cup final against Manchester United but the 30-year-old says his change of role in the team this season means it is less of a concern to him.
Puncheon said "I just think at times in the games when I am maybe doing different things, defending a bit more, then I look at it [not scoring] and think that's what I'm doing for the team now.
"Don't get me wrong I'm not going to sit there and say it doesn't affect me because it does, I still believe it's been disappointing for myself in terms of goal return, but I can't beat myself up about it."
