Bakary Sako wants Crystal Palace stay amid contract situation

Bakary Sako wants to continue his stay at Crystal Palace despite having six months left on his contract.

The Mali international has impressed since he returned from a metatarsal fracture in September last year, scoring five goals in 16 appearances, all as a substitute, this term.

And the former Saint-Etienne player has declared that he is enjoying his time at the club and would want to remain at Selhurst Park.

"Yes, of course. Of course, of course," Sako said.

"I am just enjoying my football at the moment, so I am not really focused on my contract situation.

"It's not about my personal situation, I just want to help the team and we'll see at the end of the season.

"Fingers crossed I am injury-free now and I am enjoying my football.

"I have had to recover properly after training and matches, to do things right.

"I was doing that before but I was just unlucky. I don't know why I was getting injured but now I am really happy."

"I have been injured a lot, so the manager has been playing me up front, so right now I am really enjoying it and it's good for me.

"I was happy with my performance at Brighton but unhappy we got knocked out as a team there.

On being converted to a striker by manager Roy Hodgson, from his default role as a winger, Sako said: "I have been more of a winger before, so this position is new for me.

"The manager here has been helping me a lot playing up front and I am now starting to get used to it.

"I still have to learn some things but I am trying to do it right."