If there is one person in the Crystal Palace ranks who knows the value of putting in the hard work behind the scenes, it’s full-back Jonathan Parr.

The 25-year-old Norwegian international, who joined the Eagles from Aalesund in 2011, has been on the comeback trail since picking up an ankle injury in April.

It forced him out of the Wembley play-off final and the opening months of the Premier League campaign.

However, after coming on as a substitute in the 3-0 defeat to Newcastle United last month, and impressing new boss Tony Pulis, Parr has not looked back.

“I have been working very hard for a long time and to finally make my Premier League debut was a thrill,” he said.

“While I was injured, I just told myself that I had to be ready for when the opportunity came along, and thankfully that has happened.

“Things change very quickly in football, you just have to remember that sometimes.”

He added: “It is hard when the lads are out there week in week out, and you have to do all the hard work on the training pitch where no one can see you, but in the end it has been all worthwhile.”

Since his appearance against the Magpies, Parr has started the Premier League games at Aston Villa and Manchester City, as well as last weekend’s 2-0 FA Cup win at West Bromwich Albion – thanks to goals from Dwight Gayle and Marouane Chamakh.

Parr’s return has coincided with Palace’s miserly defensive record of conceding just two goals in the past four games.

“Tony [Pulis] has changed things around. We’ve really worked hard on our defence, we’re more organised than before and have more structure.

“We’re so much more solid and teams find it hard to break us down, that was important and it is paying dividends in the league and the cup.”

Palace go to Tottenham Hotspur this weekend in the Premier League.

Wandsworth Times:

On target: Marouane Chamakh sealed Saturday's win at WBA in the dying moments