PALACE academy product Nathaniel Clyne was delighted to link up with his former Eagles team-mate Wilfried Zaha on England U21 duty last week.
The Southampton defender came on after 74 minutes in Monday's 4-0 friendly win over Austria, but Zaha was not in action after it was discovered he'd had dental surgery.
But they lined up together the Thursday before as they beat Romania 3-0 at Wycombe Wanderers' Adams Park ground.
"It was good to be linked up with Wilfried again on the international stage," Clyne told Advertiser Sport after Monday's game at Brighton's AMEX Stadium.
"We played alongside each other against Romania and it was good to see him, and he is getting on well too.
"It was a shame he didn't get to win the Young Player of the Year award in the Football League.
"Both he and Tom Ince have been excellent this season, so it's a credit to both of them in the end.
Meanwhile, the 21-year-old is a shining example to youngsters in Croydon and the surrounding areas of making the step up to the top flight of English football, and he hopes there will be more to follow in years to come.
"It would be good to see players from south London who can go and play on the big stages," he said.
"It gives the kids the belief that they can do the same.
"It was important for me as I was getting games (at Palace) and getting experience.
"I was a regular and it was really good to get that experience playing in a big league like the Championship.
"Croydon is where I'm from and where my family are, so I always go back to visit them - hopefully Palace will be in the Premier League next season."
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The Southampton defender came on after 74 minutes in Monday's 4-0 friendly win over Austria, but Zaha was not in action after it was discovered he'd had dental surgery.
But they lined up together the Thursday before as they beat Romania 3-0 at Wycombe Wanderers' Adams Park ground.
"It was good to be linked up with Wilfried again on the international stage," Clyne told Advertiser Sport after Monday's game at Brighton's AMEX Stadium.
"We played alongside each other against Romania and it was good to see him, and he is getting on well too.
"It was a shame he didn't get to win the Young Player of the Year award in the Football League.
"Both he and Tom Ince have been excellent this season, so it's a credit to both of them in the end.
Meanwhile, the 21-year-old is a shining example to youngsters in Croydon and the surrounding areas of making the step up to the top flight of English football, and he hopes there will be more to follow in years to come.
"It would be good to see players from south London who can go and play on the big stages," he said.
"It gives the kids the belief that they can do the same.
"It was important for me as I was getting games (at Palace) and getting experience.
"I was a regular and it was really good to get that experience playing in a big league like the Championship.
"Croydon is where I'm from and where my family are, so I always go back to visit them - hopefully Palace will be in the Premier League next season."
The contents of this article must not be reproduced without the permission of the Croydon Advertiser.
Follow us on Twitter for the latest Palace news, exclusives and live match updates at www.twitter.com/AdvertiserSport
Palace fans on Facebook, please 'Like' our page at www.facebook.com/AdvertiserSport
Watch our exclusive away videos following Palace around the country on our YouTube channel at www.youtube.com/AdvertiserSport