In his 14 years as a professional, David Wright has never enjoyed his football more than he is at Crystal Palace right now.

The 31-year-old signed a new one year contract extension last week - that will keep him at the club for another 18 months - and has been revelling in his role as the Eagles' midfield enforcer this season.

Bought by George Burley two summers ago as a right back, Wright has been transformed under Dougie Freedman and, as one of only three players to start every league game this season, has fast become the first name on his team sheet.

"It's been brilliant here I am really happy," said the former Ipswich Town star.

"It's nice now to have the contract sorted so I can have the rest of the season without thinking about what is happening next year.

"We have been talking about it over a number of weeks and we could take our time and make sure it was right for the club.

"Obviously, playing in a successful team has been really good this year and it has been a brilliant season so far.

"I'm really enjoying myself in midfield and although I have played that position before, I have never done it consistently like I am now.

"I know my job and my role for the team - it is not spectacular and I am not going to be doing the things Wilfried Zaha and Sean Scannell do.

"I protect the back four and break things up and then give them the ball to do their thing."

The Eagles lost their unbeaten run on Saturday as they were defeated 2-0 by Cardiff City, with Kenny Miller's opener ending a club record run of 619 minutes without conceding a goal.

Despite the defeat, Palace continue to fly high in sixth in the Championship and Wright could not be happier.

"We had a hiccup at the weekend but, overall, if you said in August that, come November, we would be sat in sixth you would not have complained," he added.

"I think there were signs of what the gaffer was starting to do and the changes he was starting to make last season.

"We became hard to beat and picked up results and it's been slowly building.

"The manager brought in some players and I think the boys have really taken on board what the manager and Lennie Lawrence and Tony Popovic have shown us.

"Slowly, they are changing everyone's belief in how good they are."