Crystal Palace midfielder Nick Carle is hoping for more first team football after breaking back into Neil Warnock's eleven. The Australia international has started the last five games for the Eagles after being left in the cold for the best part of six months and he plans to keep his quality of performance up to remain in the starting team.

"It's really good to be back in the team," he said.

"It was a very hard six months for me not playing.

"I am someone who absolutely loves playing football so it was very difficult for me but I have kept my head down and worked as hard as I could and I am happy I have got a few games on the bounce.

"It's my shirt to lose so I want to make sure I keep doing everything I can to keep myself in the team.

"I don't want to have gone through all that hard work to lose my jersey now.

"You have to be mentally really strong when you are out of the team.

"I made myself keep working as hard as I could and kept doing extra sessions and making sure I was fit if I did get a chance."

Recent reports suggested that Carle came close to leaving Selhurst Park to join Chinese Super League Shaanxi Chanba but the 28-year old is happy he stayed in London.

"I was very close to flying out there but a few things ended up happening which meant I couldn't," he added.

"It was close but never a definite thing and the most important thing for me is playing games.

"I am absolutely rapped I am back in the team and to be back here at Palace is that much better because the group of lads is amazing and the character has been brilliant.

"I just want to make sure I play from here until the end of the season."