Swansea's Shefki Kuqi feels for old club Crystal Palace

Coca Cola Championship
Venue: Selhurst Park Date: Tuesday, 9 February Kick-off: 2000 GMT
Coverage: BBC Sport website, BBC Radio 5 live, BBC Radio Wales SW FM

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Kuqi joined on a free transfer from German side TuS Koblenz

Striker Shefki Kuqi says he feels sorry for former club Crystal Palace who went into administration last month.

The Finland international, 33, quit the Eagles in the summer for an ill-fated move to Germany before joining Swansea City in the January transfer window.

Now he returns to Selhurst Park on Tuesday night to face Neil Warnock's side with his new club.

"It's disappointing and we don't want to see that happen to anybody," Kuqi told BBC Sport Wales.

"You have to give lots of credit to Crystal Palace - the manager and players and everybody.

"It could have been easy to throw the towel in because they don't get paid.

"But they've kept playing and keep doing what they can do which is winning games.

"They've played four games since going into administration and only lost to Newcastle away.

"They are doing really well when it's tough for them."

Palace were in contention for a play-off place before being deducted 10 points for going into administration with debts of approximately £30m.

So instead of facing a play-off battle with fifth-placed Swansea, they are now just four points off the relegation zone in 16th.

Ashley Williams ready for 'horrible' Palace

Kuqi, who joined Palace from Blackburn for £2.5m in 2006, went on to score 18 goals in 83 appearances during a three-year spell at Selhurst Park

He left in the summer after rejecting a new contract to join German second division side TuS Koblenz where his younger brother Njazi also plays.

But the move did not work out and Kuqi is happy to be back playing British football again after signing an 18-month deal with his seventh league club.

"When I went there at first I was happy and enjoyed the football and scored seven goals in the first 10 games," he said.

"But, in the end, everything changed there. Nothing that was promised me happened and I didn't enjoy it.

"I felt the best thing to do was to come back here.

"The way Swansea move the ball, the way the players understand the movement of each other is really, really good and I'm very pleased and really proud to be part of this team.

"The manager has lots of belief and trust in the players and, when you get that, you always give 100 per cent."