Crystal Palace midfielder Michael Hughes is urging Eagles fans to get behind the club in order to help them out of their current rut.

Saturday's defeat against QPR was Palace's fifth defeat in six games and has plunged the club to just five points off the relegation zone.

With two successive home games on the horizon against Stoke City and Barnsley, Hughes feels it is the perfect time for the Eagles to gain some vital points and wants the fans to help turn Selhurst Park into a fortress once again.

"It's important they stay behind us and cheer us on because teams don't like coming to Selhurst Park," said Hughes.

"It's a difficult place to come and lets keep it that way.

"Fans always have a part to play whether we are doing well or not doing so well.

"They are good fans. I've enjoyed my time at Palace and have always enjoyed playing in front of them.

"Everyone is going to get frustrated and no one is more frustrated than us, believe you me. But what we will say is, stay with us because it will turn and hopefully it will start this Saturday."

The former Northern Ireland international made a return to first team action against QPR after a six-week absence with a knee injury and is now hoping to cement a starting place for Saturday's clash with Stoke.

Even though it is plainly obvious Palace have missed him, Hughes is too modest to admit it.

"It's amazing how in football if a team is winning, you get forgotten but if the team is losing then all of a sudden it's oh my God we need him back', he said.

"It's unbelievably fickle at times. I think the lads we have here are more than capable to do the job, no matter who's is out on the pitch."

One man who is happy Hughes has returned is Peter Taylor. The Palace boss admitted Hughes' experience is vital and would be invaluable in his side's attempt to rescue their season.

Taylor said: "I think players of his ability and experience are very important in this situation because one thing for sure with Michael, he won't go hiding because he will be wanting the ball and we need to improve our play as well as results. Somebody like that is important to us."

Despite the club's current position, Hughes insists things are not all bad at Selhurst Park.

The former West Ham and Wimbledon man admitted he had gone through similar bad patches before and recalls the events of last season when Palace reached the play-offs despite being well off the pace in December as evidence the season is far from over.

"It's not so bad," he added. "Obviously we would rather be first or second, but it probably looks a lot worse than it is, we're not too far behind.

"Two or three wins in this league and you're laughing. Last year at Christmas time we weren't in the best shape, but we won five in a row over the christmas period and we were top six, in the play-offs with eight games to go. It's by no means a disaster."