"I'm enjoying the publicity," said Crossley. "I've still got the scrap books with the good headlines and the bad, but it's nice again to be picking up the papers when things are going well and I intend to make the most of it. I haven't got anything to prove to anyone and I think that it's helped that I'm going in to every game relaxed and not feeling under pressure."
Crossley could have been forgiven for losing faith. During the past 15 months he has become accustomed to heading for the dugout and not the pitch on a matchday. He candidly admits that games are now approached with renewed vigour.
"I'd be lying if I said you prepare exactly the same when you know that you are not in the team week in and week out," said Crossley.
"It's only natural that when you sit on the bench you get in a rut, but you have to believe that your chance is going to come and that's what keeps you going.
"I fully expected last year that unless Edwin was injured I wouldn't be playing, but this season my chance came and I took it pretty well. I suppose it would have been difficult for the manager to have left me out [after the Birmingham match], but Edwin had not done anything wrong. He had performed pretty well all season, though the results weren't coming and sometimes a change helps.
"But Edwin is a fantastic keeper and I'm not taking anything for granted, though I'm enjoying every minute at the moment and I intend to go on enjoying it as long as I can."
Goalkeepers are a unique breed and Crossley insists that Van der Sar has handled his demotion to second choice with dignity.
However, Crossley might have a new challenger to his position if, as reports suggest, Van der Sar leaves when the transfer window opens in January.
"I haven't a clue what's happening with Edwin and it's something that I intend to ignore," said Crossley. "But we've got a good relationship as friends. I understand that he's a world-class goalkeeper and he also understands that I'm playing reasonably well. But if I perform badly over the next couple of games and Edwin gets back in nothing will change, we'll still be good friends."
Crossley has quickly won over the Fulham faithful with his impressive displays, but convincing a more familiar supporter remains difficult.
"My dad never misses a game when I play, he travels all over the country to watch me," said Crossley. "But the worst thing about that is he's my biggest critic."
It's safe to assume that in recent weeks he's also been his son's biggest fan.
Sylvain Legwinski will return against Blackburn, with Luis Boa Morte (hamstring) ruled out. The match has been nominated as a 'Family Day', with children's tickets available for £5.
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