CRYSTAL Palace captain Shaun Derry is raring to get back into competitive action with the start of the season looming.

The Championship campaign will kick-off against Plymouth on Saturday and the Eagles skipper believes the squad is as strong as ever after a successful pre-season.

Derry said: “It has gone well and has flown by to be fair.

“It only seems like five minutes ago we were back and now we have had six or seven pre-season friendlies.

“The trip away to Baltimore was a good team bonding for us.

“It is a word that is touted around a lot but it really was a crucial week for us and we got two good results out there on tricky pitches.

“Then we came back and played a couple of league one sides and they gave us a good run out as well, so in all it has been enjoyable.”

Despite not adding a huge number of new faces to the first team squad, Derry is hoping the players who have been signed can make an impact which the club, as well as the fans, will be hoping for.

He said: “They have done really well to be honest.

“You look at Darren Ambrose, he has been around the block and he is only 25.

“He comes here with a great deal of experience and we are hoping he will produce some big things for us this year.

“Then you look at Freddy, who burst on to the scene at West Ham and now hopefully can come here and play with an enthusiasm and play off the cuff.

“That is what we are looking for him to do and become an exciting team player for us.”

Derry believes the Championship will again be a strong league this year and feels the sides relegated from the Premier League will be the ones to look out for.

He explained: “You have to look no further then West Brom.

“Although they had a disappointment last year and a change in management with Tony Mowbary leaving, they still have a fine squad.

“Whenever they’re in the Championship they are very strong, so I see them as being a vital contender for winning this league.

“Then you look at Newcastle and even though they have had a treacherous pre-season, you look at the types of players they have got and you would be a fool to write them off.”

The skipper also admitted the Palace first team squad was not as big as he would have hoped but stated the side could look at Burnley’s success from last season as an inspiration and attempt to emulate what they had achieved.

He said: “I am not going to sit here and lie to you by telling you we have a huge squad because we haven’t.

“It would be great to have a few new faces but we all know with the current market and financial situations sometimes you are restricted to two or three signings and that is what has happened to us this year.

“We have got to take heart from what Burnley did last season.

“They used 18 or 19 first team players and, with a bit of luck with injuries and suspensions, hopefully we can go on a run like they did.

“We played them in the first few games last year and with all respect to Owen Coyle and his team.

“We didn’t think they would be setting the league alight but as time went on they got stronger and the team spirit grew and hopefully we can have a same sort of season.”

On a personal level, Derry is pleased to put last season’s niggling shoulder injury behind him.

He said: “I have done a lot of work in the close season on my own.

“I have been working every day to try and get my shoulder right and it has been brilliant.

“The older you get, the more excited you are to be playing a fantastic game.

“I am feeling a lot fitter then ever at the minute and you change the way you look after your body with all the different supplements that come into the game.

“I am excited to be playing at this level and continuing to play for a big club.”

Looking to the opening game on Saturday against Plymouth Argyle, the midfielder urged the Eagles faithful to turn Selhurst Park into a place no away would like to travel to.

He added: “We need to make Selhurst a type of fortress for us because it well documented not a lot of teams like to travel down to south London, so we need to make sure it’s a major plus for us this year.

“We would just love to get some points on the board.

“It is a home game and I would rather play at home then have a six or seven hour trip away, so you want to be getting at least a draw but hopefully a win.

“Confidence is vital in football and we have got a manager that instils that into all his players.

“We have got some good senior lads here as well so if they can help the youngsters out then I am sure there can be some exciting times for us.

“Whenever you come to an end of a season, you just want to get back into it and I can’t wait for the season to start now.”