Australian Mile Jedinak fulfilled a lifelong dream last week when he put pen-to-paper on a three-year contract at Crystal Palace.

The 26-year-old has always wanted to play in England having plied his trade in his home country and in Turkey in the past, spending the last two years in Ankara playing for Genclerbirligi.

But it is in this country where he has envisaged his career, despite changing climate from the sunny Turkish capital to grey and drizzly Croydon.

"You get your fair share of rain here," he joked.

"I knew about the weather coming here though and it shouldn't be a problem.

"I have never spent a long period of time in England, just passed through it, but my wife has been here a few times and it is good for me.

"I like London, it is a far cry from Ankara.

"It is a new stage for me and it is always been an ambition of mine to play in England.

"It was something I wanted to jump in and be a part of.

"I was in Turkey and being over there it is a little hard to get noticed.

"But I have known Tony Popovic [Palace first team coach] for a while and have followed his career and played against him a few times.

"He and the manager had a few talks with me and it is good that we got it sorted and I am at Crystal Palace now."

Jedinak enjoyed his first training session with the rest of the Palace squad on Monday but did not play any part in Tuesday's pre-season game against Wycombe Wanderers.

He has been keeping his fitness up during the summer break though and could be in line for a run-out against Crawley Town on Friday night.

"It was good to meet everyone at training on Monday, though I cannot remember all the names," he said.

"It was really exciting and a bit different but it was good to start working with the lads.

"My fitness is OK as I have been training during the summer, you never really stop training, but I am not sure yet when I will play.

"I will have to discuss that with the manager."