Darryl Flahavan has vowed to push Julian Speroni all the way as he sets his sights on the Palace keeper’s number one shirt.

The Irishman signed for the Eagles from Southend during the summer and made his debut in the 2-1 Carling Cup win over Hereford United on Tuesday night.

However, he admits that with Speroni being in the form of his life last season he knows he faces a tough challenge to oust the Argentine.

He said: “When I spoke to the gaffer he told me straight what was happening. He wanted me to come in as competition and fight with Julian for the shirt. I knew I wouldn’t start against Watford which I didn’t have a problem with but I like a challenge.

“Julian’s a quality goalkeeper and to work with that everyday can only improve me. I’m not here to just accept that I’m not playing, I want to work hard. If I get my head down and work hard I’m confident I can do a job.”

Flahavan had been at Southend for the past eight years but said the decision to leave was made easy by his sides play-off heartbreak last year.

He said: “When we got in the play-offs last season I think quietly I said to myself if we don’t go up then I think this is my last season because I’m not getting any younger and obviously I want to move on and play for a big club, I wanted to play in this league.

“When we went out in the play-offs my mind was pretty made up to see what offers came in.

“When me and my agent got together it was only Championship we wanted to look at so when the gaffer got in contact and I came down and saw the facilities and everything I was really impressed and I like a challenge and that’s why I came here.”