If goals guaranteed a place in the first XI come the Premier League curtain raiser, Crystal Palace midfielder Jordon Mutch is staking a claim.

Mutch bagged the only goal in Monday’s 1-0 win at Colchester United, and it came after his strike on the other side of the Atlantic in the 2-0 win over FC Cincinnati.

It took his tally to two goals in four games ahead of last night’s trip to AFC Wimbledon, and this weekend’s jaunt to Fulham.

The pre-season schedule then takes the Eagles to Bromley on August 2, before the final game at Selhurst Park against Valencia on August 6.

Speaking to cpfc.co.uk after the Colchester win, Mutch said: “It was good to keep the clean sheet, and it was good for me to get a second goal so quickly.

“It is also good to keep winning and getting our fitness as high as possible.

“We have a few more games to go, so as long as we keep building on the fitness and trying to improve, then that is what we will do.

“It’s all about fitness, all the work we’ve done in pre-season is in the bank and hopefully we can keep on pushing. We will try to keep it going into the first game of the season so we’re ready to rumble.

”Valencia will be a tough game, they are a side that likes to keep the ball and move it around a lot – but it will be a good game to prepare us to go into the season against West Brom.”

He added: “I want to be involved in the play.

“I want to be in the middle of the pitch, getting on the ball, making tackles and trying to score goals.”

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