By Andrew McSteen

Stand-in skipper Damien Delaney says he is more than happy to wear the armband while regular Crystal Palace leader Mile Jedinak is out injured.

Delaney has captained the side to three victories from four Premier League games this season, impressive form which has propelled the SE25 outfit up to second in the table.

And it is a responsibility the Cork-born central defender is only too willing to accept.

Delaney said: “It’s an honour to captain this team.

“To captain a team that has come to Stamford Bridge and won is fantastic, but for me being captain is mostly about doing the same things I have already done.

“The manager gave me the armband because maybe he likes certain things he has seen.

“But Mile is the club captain and he’s not involved at the minute because he’s injured.”

He added: “The manager has given it to me and I’m just trying to do things the same way - I haven’t tried to change and I haven’t tried to become a different person.

“When Mile is back in the team I will give the armband back to him, but I will still be exactly the same. 

“I think I’m old enough now to know what is expected of me both on and off the pitch and I will continue to do that whether I have an armband or not.”

Delaney is now preparing for his next battle against the only team above them in the league, a Selhurst meeting on Saturday week with leaders Manchester City .

And the experienced defender will be putting the international break to good use at the improved  Palace training ground in Beckenham.

“I will be having a lot of rest for some injuries and hopefully they will settle down,” said the 34-year-old.

“Essentially it is getting some maintenance work in to me so I am fit and ready to go as we’ve got seven days essentially until the run-in to the Man City game - there will be a lot of work that needs to be done.

“Maybe we didn’t have the same amount of staff last season at Beckenham, as we have now but the facilities and staff are there now.

“Everybody’s there and everything’s there for me.

“International breaks mean you can get a lot of rest and a lot of maintenance work and get your legs back for the next block of games, which is another three or four before the next international break.”

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