Mile Jedinak has been thrust into the role of Australian flag-bearer in the English Premier League this season but he believes the lack of Socceroos in the top flight will only be temporary.

Jedinak will make his Premier League debut on Sunday when he captains Crystal Palace against Tottenham Hotspur.

The club won promotion by beating Watford in May’s championship playoff.

Pundits have suggested the Eagles could head straight back to the lower division but Jedinak thinks otherwise.

“We’re going to back ourselves,” the 29-year-old told AAP.

“We were up against it last year and we’ll be up against it this year but let’s hope we can show some great character and resolve.”

Other Australians in the EPL this season include Mark Schwarzer (Chelsea), Brad Jones (Liverpool) and Chris Herd (Aston Villa).

Youngsters Curtis Good (Newcastle United), Ryan Williams (Fulham) and Dylan Tombides (West Ham) are on the books but none have made senior appearances.

Jedinak is the only guaranteed starter.

The former Central Coast Mariners player can’t explain why so few Australians are in the Premier League right now.

“But there’s no reason why in a few year’s time there’s not going to be more Aussies in the teams,” he said.

“We know what my fellow countrymen, some of my teammates, have done in the past over here.

“(However) for the time being you’ve got to accept what it is and I’ll have to fly the flag for the Aussies.”

Palace has been trying to secure the services of fellow Socceroo Mark Milligan from Melbourne Victory but to date the price hasn’t been right.

Jedinak on Thursday said he didn’t know if the club was still pursuing the midfielder.

Schwarzer joined glamour club Chelsea last month knowing he could struggle to get many games ahead of No.1 keeper Petr Cech.

While Liverpool have sold their former No.1 keeper, Jones is still likely to be No.2 behind new signing Simon Mignolet from Belgium.

This season could, however, be the 31-year old Australian’s best chance to stake a claim for the top job.

Herd will be looking to muscle into Villa’s first team following an injury-plagued 2012/13 season while Good will be hoping to make his debut with Newcastle after spending time on loan with Bradford.

Tombides, 19, is back playing after battling testicular cancer the past few years and may be an outside chance of breaking into the senior side at some stage.