Rich-Baghuelou, who hails from Tugan in south-east Queensland, signed an 18-month deal with Palace’s Under-23s in January.

The contract was the reward for several years of hard graft in England with non-league clubs Dulwich Hamlet and Welling United.

A towering centre back, Rich-Baghuelou was born in Sydney and spent his childhood growing up in France and then the Gold Coast.

At the age of 16, frustrated at the lack of opportunities in Australian football, he decided to move to England to ply his trade.

And earlier this year his gamble sensationally paid off with a deal with the Eagles.

Rich-Baghuelou has already captained Palace’s Under-23s team side and is fast making a huge impression at Selhurst Park.

“I’ve really loved it there,” he told FTBL.

“It’s a lot different to the non-league where I’ve come from. I’m loving every day there. In the full-time set-up at Palace I’m really improving, just the technical side of the game.

“Now that I’m training every day I’m getting stronger, my decision-making has improved, I’m getting quicker, everything about my game’s improving.  It’s a big difference from Welling.

“Everything’s really there for you to become the best player you can become. In non-league you’re more responsible for yourself. At Palace they’re pushing you as well. The set-up is just all there for you to become the best player you can.

“It’s top-class.”

Rich-Baghuelou first started playing football as a kid in Paris.

When he returned to Australia at the age of 10 he turned out for Palm Beach and Gold Coast City, but overlooked by A-League clubs as a teenager, he decided to chance his arm in the UK.

“I came to England to play football,” he said.

“My dad thought it would better if I came to England because I could do something here. The teams in Australia weren’t really noticing me that much.

“So he thought maybe we need to go with a different approach – other people need to see you, different coaches. I lived with my aunty in Croydon. When I came there was no club, I came from scratch.

“I didn’t know where to start looking.”

Rich-Baghuelou joined Dulwich Hamlet in the National League South. He started in the club’s academy at the age of 18 as a striker, but was soon moved to central defence where he thrived.

“After that I never looked back,” he said. “Then I got called up to play in the first-team, started playing there and then league clubs came to watch me.

"I went to trial with Charlton, then Fulham came in for me to trial. Nothing materialised with that so I went back to my original trial with Charlton.”

At first the 20-year-old’s trials came to nothing, and he returned home to the Gold Coast disillusioned.

“I was upset that nothing had happened,” he admitted. “I went back to Australia for a holiday.

"I felt too much pressure to play football and I didn’t want to come back to England. I was going to stay in Australia.

“Then my uncle and aunty were in touch with Charlton and they wanted me back to train with them in pre-season. So I came back, went back to Dulwich and was training with Charlton.”

Trials with Brentford and Reading followed, as did a move to rival National League side Welling in a bid for regular game-time.

This proved to be the right decision and his performances at Welling caught the eye of Palace. Rich-Baghuelou was invited to train with the Eagles, an official trial period followed and then he was signed.

“I couldn’t believe it at the start,” he said.

“I was buzzing. It was a big gamble [to come to England] because in Australia… I was a good player but the clubs weren’t noticing me. I thought maybe in England they’ll see something they’re not seeing in Australia.

“That’s what I was gambling on – and it really did pay off. But I’m grateful to everyone who supported me. My dad pushed me to come over here and my aunty and uncle helped me.”

Now that Rich-Baghelou has his foot in the door at Selhurst door, he is keen to kick on.

The 1.9 metre tall centre-half is eyeing a place in the Premier League in the years to come.

“That’s what I want to do – I want to kick on and get a chance in the first-team,” he said.

“But at the moment I’m just doing my best in the Under-23s. If I’m doing really well in the Under-23s then my name’s going to get mentioned around the club.

"I’m just focused on the games I’ve got coming up [when the season resumes].

"My goal is to break into the first-team.”