Mullins aims to break Palace

Hayden Mullins is more than entitled to feel divided loyalties when West Ham play Crystal Palace on Saturday. There may be enough connections between the two clubs and their personnel to rival the timetable for Clapham Junction, but Mullins's links to Palace are probably the closest and certainly the most recent.

His entire football upbringing was undertaken at the Selhurst Park club and he spent more than seven years there as a professional dreaming of playing in the Premiership.

Before he joined West Ham last October, he used to room with this season's Division One top scorer Andy Johnson and is still in touch with several of his former team-mates.

Mullins is also an old favourite with the Palace fans and got a rousing reception when he played in Steve Kember's testimonial at Selhurst Park two weeks ago.

But the 25-year-old, who is set to play at left-back and within tackling distance of the prolific Johnson, is very much a West Ham man now and will have no problem in trying to disappoint them all in the First Division Play-off Final at Cardiff.

"I thought it would have been funny playing against my old mates but I came up against them in the league not so long ago," Mullins said.

"It was a bit strange going into the away dressing room and going out in West Ham colours but after the first 10 minutes that went away.

"I don't feel like a Palace person any more. I did when I first joined West Ham but I am so settled here now.

"Everybody has made me feel so welcome that it is like I have been here for years.

"I joined because I wanted to go to a bigger club and, even though both clubs will be in the same position on Saturday, I have no regrets. This is a massive club and I am glad I made the move."

On the off-chance Mullins did have mixed feelings about the Millennium Stadium final, the prize of a place in the Premiership and £25million in extra income for his club would sway him in favour of West Ham.

The additional money may mean more to Upton Park executives but the possibility of finally playing in the top flight is the spur for Mullins.

As pleased as he would eventually be for Palace and his old team-mates should they reach the Premiership, defeat on Saturday would really hurt.

After all, few players can have been tipped as many times to become a Premiership player. Ever since he broke into the Palace team in 1998 as a strong, intelligent youngster, he has been thought of as one of the Football League's better players.

His all-round ability has probably counted against him since. Mullins played for a long time for Crystal Palace in midfield but also spent spells in central defence and at full-back.

West Ham's defensive problems this season have meant that he has been moved about in similar fashion with them.

But Mullins is confident that he will make one position his own and fulfil his undoubted potential.

He said: "I have been talked about as someone who could play in the Premiership for a long time.

"I was hoping I would get there before but it was not to be and now I have got the chance to do it with West Ham.

"I was at Palace as a first year professional when we were in the Premiership but I never got my chance and I would say Saturday will be the closest I have come to playing in the top flight."

Unfortunately for West Ham manager Alan Pardew, Mullins will not be able to pass on any insider knowledge to help the Hammers achieve their promotion dream. The defender said: "I have been trying to get a few details out of the Palace boys but they are keeping their cards close to their chest.

"I cannot tell the manager anything he won't already know because I don't know anything.

"There will be a few text messages flying around in the next couple of days I am sure but it will just be good banter.

"It may be a plus for us that Julian Gray is banned for the match because he was one of their dangermen. He is a great player and would have been hard to stop.

"But I will probably have to play against Wayne Routledge instead and he will keep me very busy.

"I might know most of his tricks but you never know what he is going to do next.

"This is a very tough game to call. Palace have been in great form and I am sure they will fancy their chances but I am looking forward to what will be a massive game."

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