AKI IS TOO SHARP FOR RAZOR

AKI RIIHILAHTI knew he'd really arrived in English football when he started exchanging banter with Neil 'Razor' Rud-dock. The Finnish international, signed by Crystal Palace from Valerenga, said: "My team-mates are a good bunch. Neil asked me what Finland had ever contributed to the world. I mentioned Nokia but he said someone else invented the mobile phone.

"So I told him 2,000 beautiful women. He didn't come back on that one. But I hope people realise Finland are no longer just an ice hockey nation."

It may not have been quite an equal meeting of minds, because Riihilahti, who speaks five languages, is taking a degree in psychology and social economy but the Finn, who scored in last month's World Cup qualifier against England at Anfield, can certainly impress people with his talents on the pitch.

The 24-year-old may also be able to help rescue Palace from the threat of relegation. He gave a dynamic midfield performance in Saturday's 1-0 win over Crewe and knows how important tonight's match against Huddersfield Town at Selhurst Park is.

He told Standard Sport: "This is a six-pointer because Huddersfield are fighting for their lives as well.

We turned the corner with a win over Crewe after six successive defeats.

The atmosphere was incredible. Where did 20,000 people come from?

"I'm told it's even better for night matches and I can't wait for the Huddersfield game. This is our chance to start a good run and rebuild confidence. It is more important than the Crewe match and I'm expecting a more physical battle.

"We must take more of our chances. We got away with missing quite a few against Crewe but we won't be so lucky against other teams. I sampled relegation in Norway with Valerenga and don't want to go through that again."

England's latest Scandinavian import, who once attracted a 1 million Benfica bid, joined Palace from hard-up Valerenga for 200,000.

He chose Palace ahead of other offers, as he explained: "I am an ambitious person and want to play in the Premiership eventually.

Although they are near the bottom of the table now I believe I can achieve this with Crystal Palace.

"They are a big club with lots of potential and their ambitions are the same as mine. Several other English clubs were interested in me but the only one I considered seriously was Crewe. I trained with them for a few days and was very impressed with the set-up as well as the manager Dario Gradi.

"I almost signed for Crewe but decided to hear what Palace manager Alan Smith had to say. After that there was no turning back."

The Finn, who speaks English, French, Swedish and Norwegian and "can swear in Portuguese because a Brazilian team-mate once taught me", is combative and has scored five times in 25 games for Finland.

The latest, against England, he is definitely not giving up to Gary Neville as an own goal. He said: "The ball was on target anyway. I have seen the official referee's report and he awarded me the goal.

So have the Finnish FA so that's good enough for me.

"I was a bit disappointed my English cousin Paul didn't bet on me to score after I told him to do it.

He said he didn't have time. Maybe the bookmakers wouldn't have paid out anyway!"

He started out at his local club HJK Helsinki and progressed through the ranks of their junior sides making his Finnish League debut in July 1995 when he was 18.

He also played for Finland's junior sides and captained the Under- 21 team and says one of his proudest moments was being part of the Helsinki team that became the first Finnish side to qualify for the Champions League.

He had some experience of English football before Palace. As he recalled: "A few years ago I had trials at Nottingham Forest and played in their reserves. I also played in the Norwich City Easter Youth Festival when I was about 10.

"We had a good team including Janne Saarinen, who has also come through to the full international side. But we didn't win. We were staying in caravans, it was very cold and several of the boys went down with colds or flu and we lost the final."

For now, his accommodation is a tad more comfortable and his priority is to avoid the experience of relegation he suffered with Valerenga.

"I want to help Finland qualify for the World Cup and to help Palace climb the League," he said. "The first will be difficult but I have no doubts about Palace. I wouldn't have joined if I thought I was looking at another relegation."

Crystal Palace v Huddersfield Town 7.45pm, tonight, Selhurst Park

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