James Tomkins gives his verdict on competition for first-team spot at Crystal Palace, reflects on Chelsea defeat and his return from injury

BY ANDREW McSTEEN

James Tomkins has welcomed the competition for a starting role in Crystal Palace’s defence.

Eagles manager Roy Hodgson had an injury-free squad to choose from before the 2-0 loss to Chelsea.

Tomkins has played in the last four Premier League games, but is battling with Gary Cahill, Martin Kelly, Scott Dann and Mamadou Sakho for a first-team jersey.

“It’s always nice to have competition, it makes you want to improve – makes you want to try even harder,” said Tomkins.

“It’s one of those things where it’s nice to have competition, everyone is fighting for places and that’s just the way it is. I’m playing with Gaz quite a bit at the minute and it’s obviously a new partnership. He’s started very well here.

“There’s a lot of players in my position who are really good at the club – everyone’s fighting for places and everyone has got to keep their form.”

Since recovering from a groin injury picked up at Newcastle United in April, James Tomkins has played in a tough run which has included a 2-2 draw away at Arsenal before three 2-0 defeats against Manchester City, Leicester City and Chelsea.

Two second-half goals from Tammy Abraham and Christian Pulisic sent Palace to defeat in west London at the weekend.

“They’re obviously a good side, full of confidence at the minute, so we knew it was going to be difficult keeping them out for the first half,” said Tomkins.

“Coming out for the second half…you never know. All it needed was a goal and then it would be something to hold on to, but it wasn’t to be as they were a constant threat most of the second half.

“We started to play after we went 1-0 down but it’s disappointing because you come to places like Stamford Bridge, defend for long periods to keep them out, and don’t get anything from the game, but they are a good team.

“Their first goal was very clever.

“It’s not like we peppered their goal or anything. It was more a case of ‘let’s keep them out and maybe get one on the break’. We had a few odd chances and my chance was a little bit of surprise as I wasn’t expecting it. McCarthy had one at the end.

“But their second goal was a bit fortunate as it landed on his head. Things are not going quite our way. We want to make it hard for teams like Chelsea to score against us and not be easy – there’s positives to take for sure, but obviously we’ve got Liverpool next which is a difficult game so it’s a tough run of games we’re having.”

Tomkins is happy to be back playing and is working hard to maintain his place in the team.

“I’ve come in and it’s been a tough run of fixtures for me,” said the former West Ham United player. “But you can look at that and come out the end of this and hopefully I’ll be full of confidence in terms of how the groin feels and how everything is going.

“I just want to play as many games as I can and I’ve got to keep performing to keep my place, that’s the thing.”

PICTURES BY KEITH GILLARD