I'm going to ignore the Norwich game because there was a far more important and celebratory Palace news story on Monday.

For once the main news item associated with the club wasn't some fantastical managerial speculation or premature transfer window rumours - this was the good news every Palace fan had been hoping for.

Mile Jedinak signed a new deal with the club.

The commandingly big-haired Aussie put pen to paper and ended months of hearsay, false reports and worry.

To begin with, I think I can say that at this point it isn’t even subjective; Jedinak is awe-inspiring.

Mainly because in last year’s Movember he managed to look good with a handlebar moustache, as well as the fact he wins more headers and makes more tackles than god.

I couldn't be happier about this, and couldn't be more perplexed that there weren't at least a handful of clubs more persuasively chasing his signature.

While I don’t expect the top clubs to come calling, surely more established Premier League sides than Palace wouldn't mind a player of his stature shoring up their midfield?

Admittedly he has his flaws - loves to misplace the odd crucial pass while not really loving to score - but as far as the essential duties of an enforcer go, the Australian is up there with some of the more illustrious names in the top flight.

His game might not be complete, but against any opponents he'll harangue and harass until the cows come home, with probably enough stamina and physicality to then wear those cattle down.

I'm incredible grateful to Jedinak for last season, and give him as much credit for our promotion as anyone.

That includes our goal-scoring, smile-shy striker, the tricky young winger now wasting away up north and the quirky, bald Bristolian in charge.

After a first campaign that divided fans, Jedinak quickly morphed into the player we now rely on week in week out, becoming the first name on the team sheet and eradicating a lot of his mistakes.

His partnership with KG has been refreshingly solid and stable while the team seems to be in constant flux around them, although perhaps Mile's dominance has detrimentally papered over some of the cracks in KG's game at times.

Jedinak isn't perfect, but Palace don't have many players at all who have both the ability AND the promotion-winning, team-leading drive of our captain.

Your Local Guardian:

Giving his all: Jedinak has the battling spirit expected of a Palace skipper

Against West Ham, and for the long haul, we'll need him to be firing on all cylinders. But the reassurance of his commitment to the club has lifted a dark cloud that was hanging over Selhurst.

It has removed the potentially horrendous double disappointment that if we don’t stay up then Mile's unresolved contract situation would see him depart for free.

Here’s to three and a half more battling, formidable years.

Oh and one final thing, I’ve just discovered his full name is Michael John Jedinak! It’s amazing what Wikipedia can teach you.