Crystal Palace ace Andros Townsend says English football's loan system was the making of him.

Townsend had nine loans earlier in his career.

"I went from everything getting done for me — even to the point where Spurs would arrange taxis to and from training," Townsend told the Daily Mail. "In Yeovil, it was the real world. To get to training you arrange your own transport because I didn't drive at the time.

"You're not playing for fun any more, it's all about three points. At the time they were in the relegation zone so it was life or death.

"Guys were on short contracts and if they get relegated then maybe they are out of work. It was a real eye-opener and I was made to grow up at a really young age.

"But it was 100 per cent the best thing for my career, going out on loan. A lot of players then, and now, only really know Premier League academy football where everything's nice. But when it's Tuesday night in Carlisle and on Saturday you're at the opposite end of the country, that's the other side that a lot of youngsters don't experience."