Sullay Kaikai has been starved of first-team opportunities at Crystal Palace but he’s not giving up on making an impact in the squad this season.
After returning from a successful loan spell with Brentford in January where he scored three goals in 18 appearances over the first half of the season, Kaikai wants to make his mark under Sam Allardyce.
Big Sam gave the 21-year-old opportunities to impress during the FA Cup third round clashes with Bolton but is yet to feature in the Premier League this season after making his debut last May.
Kaikai played the full 90 for the U23s against Bolton on Monday with assistant manager Sammy Lee and first-team coach Kevin Keen watching on from the stands.
The forward says playing for the U23s offers him the opportunity to develop his game as it acts like a learning curve to get him ready for the first-team.
Playing in U23 football is a learning curve and it is all about getting ready for men’s football. It is good to stay fit and fresh because you never know when that opportunity is going to come.
Kaikai treats every game as an opportunity to impress and to himself in the picture to play in the Premier League.
It is a good opportunity to get some fitness and to try and impress the staff who are watching. It is about going into the game with the right approach, really. Every game is an opportunity. You never know who is watching so you have got to impress and for yourself as well, putting in a satisfying performance because you don’t know when an opportunity will come.
