U21: Three Prospects at Palace (Part 4)
Kwesi Appiah
At 23-years-old, Kwesi Appiah is one of the oldest players to have represented Palace’s Under 21s team on a regular basis this season. Although he is slightly older than the majority of the other youth players, Appiah has shown signs of the amount of ability that is required to become a first team starter for the Eagles in years to come.
The Ghanaian has worked hard to get where he is now and has come a long way since his time at semi-professional side Kings Lynn. In recent seasons, the striker has been loaned out to numerous clubs including Yeovil and Cambridge United where he enjoyed highly successful spells, scoring goals on a regular basis.
Appiah’s form for the U’s was so impressive, that the Ghana head coach and former Portsmouth manager Avaram Grant saw fit to reward him with an international call-up to his African Cup of Nations squad. Grant’s faith was rewarded when the forward managed to bag a goal and win the man of the match award against Guinea in the quarter-final of the AFCON.
Currently, Appiah is on loan at Championship side Reading and I’m sure if he can impress there, the lad isn’t too far away from making regular appearances for either the Eagles or another side in the top two tiers of English football.
Reise Allassani
London-born Allassani is another player from the Palace ranks that has been at the club for a very long time. At 19-years-old the 5’7″ winger has still not made a professional appearance for the first team. This may well change in the seasons to come though as the starlet has been offered a new professional contract at the club.
There is no doubt that this is a message of intent from the hierarchy at Palace, as a move away from Selhurst is now off the cards. Allassani is yet another young tricky winger coming through the ranks at the Eagles, so he would certainly fit into the current style of play that the club are adopting.
In the mean time, a loan move to a League One or Two club would certainly put the Englishman in a better stead as it would really show whether he has the credentials to deal with the physicality that the leagues in England are famed for. Either way, this is a lad that’s hungry for success going by his work rate on the pitch, so don’t be surprised to see this young player featuring for the Eagles in season ahead.
Connor Dymond
As a center half, this lad ticks all of the boxes – he’s tall, strong, a great tackler and a natural leader, much like Scott Dann in the first team. Dymond can also pop up with goals at important times; earlier on this season he sealed a victory for the U21s with an important goal against Ipswich, that turned out to be the only one in the game.
Soon turning 21, it is fair to say that this young lad still has a got a good few years to improve and reach his prime. Much like many other players in the Eagles’ academy, I can see a loan move to a lower league team being very helpful and could potentially be what this young Englishman needs to prove his worth.
Dymond is another player that has been handed a new contract, so no doubt that the center half will be look to push on and progress even further in the seasons to come. Overall, this is a lad that has got undeniable talent and potential, so don’t be surprised to see this young player making an appearance or two for the first team in the future.