Practical joker Danny Butterfield has vowed to cut out his jovial ways in a bid to earn himself a fresh Crystal Palace deal.

Butterfield's contract expires at the end of season and the reliable right-back has set his sights on impressing new chief Neil Warnock enough to earn himself an extended Selhurst Park stay - even if it does mean stopping his infamous jokes.

Butterfield is widely regarded as the club's biggest practical joker and his notoriety increased during an autograph signing session with the new boss and injured duo Paul Ifill and Mark Kennedy in Redhill's Belfry Shopping Centre, on Friday.

As Kennedy took a quick bathroom break - Butterfield and Ifill sabotaged a selection of the former Republic of Ireland international's pictures with the obligatory drawn on moustache and glasses.

But the former Grimsby Town defender says he will stem the tide of jokes as he looks to earn a new deal.

"It's early days with the manager at the moment so you never really know where you stand in terms of the jokes, said Butterfield.

"So I've tried to cut out the practical jokes a little bit and just stay amongst the lads and don't involve the gaffer until we know what he is like.

"My contract is up at the end of year so I'm pushing to earn a new one.

He said: "My priority is to keep playing football, impress the new manager and to get in the team."

However, Butterfield's attempts to win over the former Sheffield United boss have hit a bit of a snag after sustaining a hamstring strain during the 1-1 draw against Blackpool.

And after starting in Warnock's first game in charge, Butterfield admits his injury setback could not have come at a worse time.

"When a new manager comes in you want to impress, so to play one game and then get injured is frustrating, said the 27-year-old.

"But I'll be back fit soon and pushing to be in the manager's plans.

"I had just forced my way into the team under Peter Taylor and then there was a change of manager so that doesn't really count for anything now.

He added: "It's all about trying to impress the new man and hopefully in the next couple of weeks I can do that."