Tony Popovic's start to life in south London was far from ideal, as our former centre-back revealed to Palace TV's Chris Grierson:
The start is always difficult because you’ve got to adapt," he says. "I was having issues with my work permit, as I was really on the border of having enough games to qualify [for a work permit] so I didn’t start the season and I had missed the pre-season."
Despite being unable to kick a ball in a professional capacity for the Eagles, Popovic liked what he saw from afar: "Just in that period [of being unable to play] and seeing the professionalism of the club and with Steve Bruce having been a defender who played at the very highest level with Manchester United, really enticed me to take that option when it became available.