Owen Garvan: 'I've had a disappointing season at Crystal Palace'

DESPITE enjoying a run of matches in the starting line-up in recent weeks, Palace midfielder Owen Garvan has admitted he might have to look elsewhere for more regular first-team football.

The cultured Irish midfielder has taken advantage of the Eagles' current injury crisis - both Mile Jedinak and Kagisho Dikagcoi are sidelined - and has been playing well in partnership with tough-tackling Stuart O'Keefe in the centre of the park.

Results might not have been going well and the season has rather petered out for the Eagles, but the 24-year-old, while conceding the team's run is disappointing, is happy to be out on the pitch playing football.

"It has been going okay, although results towards the back end of the season have been disappointing," he said. "Myself and Stuart (O'Keefe) have been playing together, because of injuries and that has also given some of the younger players a chance to play.

Business Cards From Only £10.95 Delivered www.myprint-247.co.uk

myprint-247

View details

Print voucher

Our heavyweight cards have FREE UV silk coating, FREE next day delivery & VAT included. Choose from 1000's of pre-designed templates or upload your own artwork. Orders dispatched within 24hrs.

Terms: Visit our site for more products: Business Cards, Compliment Slips, Letterheads, Leaflets, Postcards, Posters & much more. All items are free next day delivery. www.myprint-247.co.uk

Contact: 01858 468192

Valid until: Friday, May 31 2013

"It is great experience for them to play at places like Reading on Saturday - it was a full-house and had such a great atmosphere. It was just disappointing we conceded a second goal when Reading were down to ten men, but we played well and on another day, could have won.

"I had a good start to the season and was playing well, but then got injured and have found it hard to get back in the team. Overall, it has been a disappointing season for me really and I don't know what lies ahead.

"You just don't know what can happen in football and the manager may be looking to bring players in this summer - we are really strong in the midfield. Like any footballer, I want to play on a more regular basis - week in and week out.

"The most frustrating thing for me this season is the timing of my injury - I was playing well and who knows what would have happened if I hadn't picked up the injury."

Garvan was signed by former manager George Burley in 2010 and enjoyed a promising start to his Palace career, but has found his chances limited under Dougie Freedman.

He turned down a move to Palace's rivals Brighton last summer in a bid to nail down a starting place and prove to Freedman his talent warranted more game-time.

Sadly, through injury and the form of other midfielders, Garvan has played only 22 times this season, scoring three goals.

Palace face Cardiff today at Selhurst Park, a re-run of the Carling Cup semi-final, which went in the Welsh side's favour.

While many Eagles fans will be hoping the team can gain revenge and spoil the Bluebirds' play-off hopes, Garvan said this wasn't really on his agenda.

"We want to win the game because that is what you play the game for," he said. "There are no grudges at all, they were unlucky in the final, and are a good side. They need to win for their play-off hopes and we want to end the season on a positive note."