August 11 2004

Joonas Kolkka

Crystal Palace's new flying winger Joonas Kolkka says fellow Finn Aki Riihilahti played a key role in his £300,000 move from German giants Borussia Mönchengladbach, by Neil McSteen.

The 29-year-old revealed that Riihilahti had tipped him off about Iain Dowie's interest before Palace began negotiations with German club, who finished 9th in the Bundesliga last season.

He told the Guardian: "I heard from him that there might be some interest. For me it's always been a dream to play in the Premier League so I didn't have to think about the move for long.

"I've known Aki for many years and that made it much easier for me. I could ask him many things about the good points and bad points."

Having won the Dutch Championship with PSV Eindhoven and played Champions League Football for PSV and Panathinaikos, Kolkka brings a wealth of experience to Palace's left flank.

Eleven goals in 56 caps for his country included a brace in October 1999 against a Northern Ireland side featuring one Iain Dowie, that left a lasting impression. Now he cannot wait to impress in a league which is keenly followed in his own country.

He said: "English football was always on Finnish television. Every young player knows the English teams and the atmosphere."

Kolkka has a reputation as a perfectionist who loves training and seems to be enjoying the gruelling double sessions with fitness instructor John Harbin.

He said: "Here the quality of training is higher and the tempo is higher so it is more exhausting.

"I like to train hard and that is the way we have to do it. We don't have the quality like Manchester United or Arsenal. We have to be fit and fight for every ball. I think this is the only way we can do it."

After an impressive debut against Sporting Lisbon, Kolkka was quiet in defeats against QPR and Sampdoria, and is pleading for patience while he finds his feet.

"I'm looking forward to learning how we play. I hope it goes fast but it always takes time."

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