December 4 2006

Shefki Kuqi

Shefki Kuqi hopes the good times will start to roll - once he moves into his new gaff.

The Finnish international striker had his best game in an Eagles shirt after scoring one and setting up another in Saturday's 3-0 win over QPR.

Kuqi has been frustrated with his Palace form since his £2.5m transfer deadline day move from Blackburn and admits living in a Croydon hotel while he buys his house hasn't helped.

But the 30-year-old is determined to score the goals that gets Palace back up the league table - and get the keys to his new house.

He said: "As a footballer, everybody thinks your life is great - you can do everything you want and live wherever you want. But living in a hotel is hard and I haven't enjoyed my football. Hopefully I can start enjoying my football again.

"The game went well but my finishing let me down big time. I thought I could get a couple of goals. I got one, which was lucky to go through the keeper's legs, but I should have got more.

"Things jave been difficult for me here. I did well at Blackburn last season, but I made a decision to come to Palace and I have to stick by that. It was hard when the team wasn't doing well and living in a hotel since I have been here hasn't made things any easier.

"I bought my house and thought I was going to be able to move in after four weeks, but now 10 have passed. Every time I ring the solicitors they say next week, next week. People keep telling me we're nearly there butnearly there has been quite a long time, and we're nowhere near.

"My agent has told me to concentrate on my football, but I have to go back to my hotel and I can't relax.

"My wife and I have only got one room and I have to everything in there. I don't like the room servie, so I try to eat out and that gives me a bit of fresh air as well."