Ipswich Town defender Dara O’Shea pleased to be reunited with former West Bromwich Albion players Alex Palmer and Conor Townsend at Portman Road

Ipswich Town defender Dara O’Shea has heaped praise on team-mates Conor Townsend and Alex Palmer ahead of the Blues’ Premier League trip to Crystal Palace tomorrow.

O’Shea previously shared a dressing room with the duo at West Bromwich Albion, with the three ex-Baggies all ending up back together at Portman Road for Town’s first season back in the Premier League.

Goalkeeper Palmer became the Blues’ final signing of the January transfer window on deadline day and has since become the designated number one having played in all five matches since his arrival.

Meanwhile, left-back Townsend has had to play second fiddle to Leif Davis since he was brought in from The Hawthorns in the summer, but he has impressed in cup competitions and on his one league start at Aston Villa last month.

O’Shea has said that the attitude Townsend displays despite his minutes being limited is a testament to his character and that his recent performances have not come as a surprise to anyone in the Town squad.

“I’ve known Conor for a long time, we’re really close and our families are close,” he said. “He’s a great pro, Conor, you know what you’re doing to get with him every game.

“For him this season he probably came in knowing he wasn’t going to be first choice. His mentality towards that and how he’s approached training day in, day out getting around the lads has been great.

“The performances he’s put in recently have been amazing and that’s shown everybody else what we see day in, day out. That’s a credit to him, being ready when called upon is one of the hardest things to do when you haven’t been playing games so it’s amazing that he’s able to come in and put in the performances that he has.”

O’Shea was also pleased with the acquisition of Palmer having worked with him for a number of years in the west Midlands.

The 26-year-old said: “I was in the academy with him at West Brom so I’ve known him a long time. It’s been nice to have him back in and around me and all the lads have enjoyed having him too.

“He’s a confident lad and he likes to talk, we give him a bit of banter for that too that he doesn’t shut up at times. It’s nice to have someone come in straight away and be a part of the group like he has.

“His performances as well have been a breath of fresh air stepping straight into things and working well. I’m looking forward to playing with him for longer.

“It’s tough as a keeper to be given that opportunity, especially when you come through the academy to be given that shirt. Once he did, he took that with both hands and he kicked on.

“He’s been amazing for West Brom, he did really well for the club and he’s got his chance now in the Premier League. He’s really relishing it and looking forward to it.”

Town visit Selhurst Park this weekend looking to claim their first Premier League win of 2025 and come into the contest having lost six of their last seven league matches.

O’Shea, who has lost all five of his own appearances against the Eagles, knows the challenge Oliver Glasner’s side will provide with the likes of Eberechi Eze, Ismaila Sarr and Eddie Nketiah among the attacking talent likely to start for a side who have won eight of their last 10 matches in all competitions.

“It’s going to be a tough game, going away to Selhurst Park is a tough ground to go to,” O’Shea said. “They’re in good form as well so they’re going to be right up for it.

“It’s probably going to be a game with not much in it, similar to the home fixture. It’s going to be a front-footed game, quite attacking and aggressive and it’s a game we’re looking forward to.

“They’ve got some really good one-v-one players, technically very good, really sharp and quick so it’s going to be a big task for us to keep them quiet. They’ve been doing so well recently so we’re trying to limit their strengths as best as possible.

“They’re big on one-v-ones so trying to get two-v-ones ourselves and try and counteract their main threats is going to be important for us.”