It won’t come as a surprise to learn that Crystal Palace’s recent upturn in form has coincided with the return of their enigmatic forward, Wilfried Zaha.
After picking up a knee injury in August, Zaha missed six games on the spin following their 3-0 defeat to Huddersfield on the opening day and returned to the side when they were rooted to the bottom of the table having lost each of their first seven games.
Zaha returned for the visit of reigning Premier League champions, making an instant impact, scoring what proved to be the winner, earning the Eagles their first points of the season.
Splitting time between playing as a false nine or as an out-and-out winger, the Ivorian attacker has been instrumental in Palace’s recent rise up the table as they look to make it three wins in a row and eight games unbeaten when they take on fellow relegation struggles Swansea this weekend, and make sure you visit Ladbrokes if you’re having a punt on the action.
Since returning from injury, Zaha has netted four goals and provided an assist , with his goals worth an additional six points to the Eagles, the difference between them sitting where they are in 14th and the foot of the Premier League table.
As one would suspect, form like this has not gone unnoticed around the Premier League.as the likes of Arsenal and Chelsea, along with Premier League leaders Manchester City are all interested in signing the attacker in next month’s transfer window.
Zaha has already earned one big money move in his career when he signed for Manchester United in January 2013 for £10.5m, but things didn’t go to plan.
He was the last player officially recruited by Sir Alex Ferguson but Zaha arrived at the club after Ferguson handed the reins over to David Moyes following his retirement from the game, and Zaha didn’t get a look-in under Moyes, making just four appearances for the club.
After returning to Selhurst Park on loan in 2014, Zaha rediscovered his best form and quickly made the decision that he wanted to return on a permanent basis, a move that was finalised in February 2015.
Now 25, Zaha has more experience under his belt but more importantly he’s matured as a player and as a person, which has allowed him to shoulder the load and expectation that’s placed upon him by the Palace fans.
Week after week, he’s turning in man of the match performances and has been the biggest influence behind Palace’s recent rise up the table as they look to escape relegation, and the club cannot afford to part ways with him next month if they wish to survive, he’s simply too important.
