Striker Dougie Freedman has admitted he is frustrated at his lack of first team action this season.
The veteran forward has been on the subs bench for all three league matches so far, with his only start coming in the Carling Cup.
But Freedman, 33, insists he is not content with being a squad player and is determined to be the catalyst for more goals for the Eagles.
"I expect to play - I train hard and keep myself fit," Freedman told the South London Press. "I showed that in the League Cup game against Bristol Rovers when I scored, played 120 minutes and still felt strong and fit and created a few chances.
"It's a little upsetting for myself if people see me being used off the bench because I'm a creator - a maker and taker of goals and there's somewhere in the team we need that.
"I played a lot of games off the bench last year and a lot of the staff have told me I should have started more matches, I can't have another season like that.
"The manager tells me to be patient, which is not a problem, but when there's not the making or taking of goals there's got to be a time I do play and I felt the games against Leicester and at Ipswich on Sunday we could have made more chances.
"If we're winning every game I'm more than happy to wait my turn but the last couple of games have been disappointing with the chances created and not taken.
"My outlook is that if I stay fit it's only a matter of time before I'm playing."
