Warnock hopes for Ambrose impact

Ambrose joined Palace on a two-year deal after his Charlton contract ran out

Crystal Palace manager Neil Warnock wants new midfield signing Darren Ambrose to be a key figure for the Eagles this season.

The 25-year-old joined from Charlton on a free transfer after they were relegated to League One last term.

Warnock told BBC London 94.9: "I think he'll be instrumental in how well we do because he's got all the attributes."

"He's been playing in a team that's struggling and I'm hoping to give him the licence to go and enjoy himself."

Crystal Palace are on a pre-season tour of the United States where they opened with a 5-2 win over their namesakes Crystal Palace USA with Freddie Sears, the loan signing from West Ham, one of the scorers.

The Palace manager said that he is still looking to strengthen his squad but concedes that young players Victor Moses, Sean Scannell, Lee Hills, Keiron Cadogan and Nathaniel Clyne are bound to attract interest from other clubs.

"I've spoken to three English managers yesterday while in Baltimore and we all have to get some strikers in over the next few weeks.

You've got to keep things in perspective, get a good start and go as high as we can Neil Warnock on the new season

"Without a shadow of a doubt we're going to get enquiries for some of our players because all the top Premier League clubs have got to get more English players in their squads with the new quota coming in next year.

"But we will keep developing them and we will lose the odd one but that's not just us, that's every club in the country," he added.

The Eagles finished 15th in the Championship last season and Warnock is again keeping expectations in check.

"You've got to keep things in perspective, get a good start and go as high as we can. There's not a lot of pressure on us but, as Charlton, Norwich and Southampton showed, it's not an easy league."

Palace play one more friendly in Lancaster, Pennsylvania before heading home.