United manager Simon Grayson is relishing the prospect of a return to league action when his side tackle Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park on Saturday.

United head to Crystal Palace on the back of an impressive performance at Arsenal on Monday, but the boss had stressed before the FA Cup clash that he had one eye firmly fixed on his side's return to the capital.

Palace have also been involved in cup action this week, beating Cardiff City 1-0 in the semi-final first leg of the Carling Cup, and Grayson took the chance to watch the Eagles first hand.

"I watched the game on Tuesday at Selhurst," he said.

"Palace are a good side, they did well against Cardiff, but we knew they were a decent team anyway.

"They gave us a good game at Elland Road back in September and they have some good young players with the likes of Scannell and Zaha.

"Dougie Freedman and Lennie Lawrence have them well organised and they are a difficult side to play against. Selhurst is a tight ground as well so I expect another rocking atmosphere.

"But, as I always say, I'm confident that we have the players of getting a result anywhere and we'll go there looking to do that."

Selhurst Park holds few happy memories for Leeds fans in recent years. Our last win was in March 2006 and we have tasted defeat on our last two trips to this part of South London.

Last season's clash at Selhurst ended in a 1-0 defeat that saw our Play-Off hopes ended and Palace's survival hopes all-but guaranteed.

"They were down there fighting last season," said Grayson.

"They got an early goal, we peppered them after that, but credit to them, they held on and got the result they wanted.

"The result went against us and they got what they wanted and it kept them up, but they're in a different position this season.

"I look back to the Burnley game for us and you sensed our players will be up for the challenge. We needed a performance and a result, and the challenge is there to do it on a regular basis."