CRYSTAL Palace striker Calvin Andrew is relishing the chance to impress when Neil Warnock returns to SE25 for the first time since leaving for QPR.

The Eagles face Warnock’s Hoops on Saturday and with Palace’s recent resurgence leaving them only two points behind their old manager’s new side, Andrew believes it will all add to a more thrilling game.

He said: “If anything it will make it a bit more exciting.

“The lads will be more up for it than if it was against someone normal.

“Everyone has something to prove, including myself.

“In any game of football you want to prove a point.

“It is not due to any decisions that have been made or anything like that, it is just a chance to stamp your mark on their minds.”

After scoring his first league goal and guaranteeing his side all three points against Preston North End, the striker spoke of his relief to put his injury nightmare behind him and fulfil a desire to score in front of the Selhurst faithful.

He said: “When I was sitting on the treatment bed five or six months ago, I sat there watching the other lads train and I remember thinking to myself what a feeling it would be to get back, get fit and go and score.

“It has played on my mind.

“A lot of people would say you don’t really think about it but as a striker you know that is what you get judged on.

“You can go out and put as many good performances and work hard but at the end of the season everyone is going to look at how many goals you have scored, so it is good to get one and hopefully I can get a few more.”

As with every new manager, it is never easy to deliver immediate success and since Paul Hart’s arrival it has been no different.

However, performances in recent weeks show something has finally clicked into place and Andrew was quick to highlight the fact.

He added: “There has been a real overhaul of people coming in and it has taken a few games to get us where they want us to be but I think we are there now.

“The regime has changed in that we are training at different times and resting differently, which takes a little bit of time to get used to but we have got that now.”

One constant throughout the financial troubles of administration has been the support and passion of the Palace faithful, who prior to the game had helped to raise over £30,000 to sponsor the match.

This sort of continuing support towards the club has not gone unnoticed by the players, including Andrew who believes the fans really give the team an extra incentive to win games.

He said: “You don’t realise how much they can get behind you.

“We are grateful to the supporters, they have been great.

“The confidence now is right up there.

“I think you could sense that at the end of the match with the fans who have been brilliant and got behind the players and now hopefully we can really press on and take something from the result.”