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The former Tottenham star walked away this summer following relegation after just five months at St James’ Park.

The 25-year-old was hammered by fans following his £13m switch to Crystal Palace but says being back in the England fold proves it was the right decision.

Townsend says his brief Toon flirtation was the most passionate of his career and the first time he had ever felt genuine affection at a club.

“It was the first time in my career that I actually did feel loved, and did feel right,’ said Townsend who was drafted into the squad for tomorrow’s World Cup qualifier against Malta after Raheem Sterling withdrew through injury.

“The fans were great with me. Everyone loved me and on the last game of the season against Spurs, the standing ovation when I got subbed was incredible.

“It made the hairs on my arms stand up. It was extremely difficult to leave that, but football is a short career and sometime you use your head as opposed to your heart.

Townsend doesn’t need telling that jilting the Toon Army comes at a price and he understands their frustration with him.

“I got stick,” he said. “I understand why people were frustrated, why some people were upset. Nobody knows what is going on in your head.

“Everyone on the outside goes ‘Ahh, he’s left Newcastle and gone to Palace, it must be about the money.’

“Nobody seems to think players are actually motivated about getting the best out of themselves, making the most of our career, playing in the greatest division in the world. England featured in that decision.

“It did cross my mind to stay but I need to be playing Premier League football if I wanted to make the most of my career.

“A year taking a step back in the Championship - when at Spurs I wasn’t as playing as much as I’d have liked to - I decided I couldn’t really do that.

“I made the tough decision but I’m happy to be at Palace now. Everything is going well, so hopefully it was the right decision.”

The winger received a text this week from Newcastle boss Rafa Benitez congratulating him on his recall to the national squad.

“He understood and all is well there,” said 11 cap Townsend, who was left out of former boss Roy Hodgson’s squad for Euro 2016.

“He’s fantastic and was especially good for me at the time.

“When he came in I was injured for a bit, I was struggling a bit, but from day one he put his faith in me, said he believed in me, wanted to help me progress my career, score goals and assist goals.

“For someone like Rafa who has won everything, who’s managed the best to say that to me, fills me with great confidence. I became a better player under him.”

It’s almost three years to the day since Townsend burst on the England scene with a man of the match performance against Lithuania, but it’s been largely frustration ever since.

Injuries, loss of form and being frozen out at Spurs after a public row with the club’s fitness coach have all contributed.

“It has been extremely frustrating,” he said, “Looking back on it, I got injured at the wrong time when I was flying high.

“Then for a year or two I could not get back to the form I wanted. But now, what it is in the past is in the past. I proved at Newcastle I am still good enough to play in the Premier League.

“Now I am playing well for Palace and scoring goals again. Obviously there is a bit of frustration that I could not kick on after my debut but I think I am in a good place again.

“I am happy with my form and I am playing well. That is all that matters in my head.”