New Crystal Palace boss Roy Hodgson has been pleased with the spirit of his squad since his return.
The Palace manager rejoined his boyhood club last week until the end of the season, and discussed his satisfaction with early training sessions.
Hodgson observed: It feels very good to be back at the club. It's been intensive, as I expected it to be, but it's also been enjoyable.
Morale has been surprisingly good. When there is a change of manager, that always affects the players, and with the fact that the results have been as they have been, it is very hard to live through those periods. Everyone has done it at some stages of their lives.
You can't really expect people to be bubbly at that moment in time, but I've been surprised the mood has been much better than I feared it might be. It's important we keep that going.
The environment in training and around the club is going to be so important, because we are facing quite a crucial period in the club's history in the next two months.
There is no doubt in my mind that everyone is 100 percent on board with our goal, which is so stay in the league, so I don't have any fears in that respect."