I will be brutally honest, when we first got promoted I didn’t think that Damien Delaney had what it took to make the cut at this level – boy was I proved wrong! The impact that Damo made for us in our promotion season was sensational, the Irishman came from the verge of quitting football, to take up triathlons, to becoming an integral part of a Premiership side.
Yet again this season he has been ever present in the heart of the Palace defence and has continued to build his formidable partnership with Scott Dann. The two centre halfs in the Palace side probably don’t get enough credit because of the attacking prowess of our side but it certainly doesn’t go unnoticed by us Palace fans.
Unfortunately, Delaney isn’t getting any younger and at the age of 33 he is probably in the final steps of his career. I have been thoroughly impressed with Damien’s character and leadership during his spell as captain, during the absence of Mile Jedinak with him being away for the Asia Cup and also with the injury he picked up during the competition.
One of the biggest reasons for the success at this club in past few years is down to the spirit and the backbone that the players in the changing room provide and Delaney is one of the players who plays a pivotal role in doing so. For that reason, I would love for him to stay around the club as long as possible, whether that be as a squad player initially and then perhaps into coaching the youngsters – it is essential that he sticks around. I certainly think that he has got at least another season in him but we do need to start thinking about what we are going to do in years to come.
I have said it before and I will say it again, I can see Martin Kelly stepping across the back line to fill the void that would be left by Delaney, once he decides to hang up his boots, but there is one central defender I think we should target this summer.
