Wilfried Zaha and his new manager at Crystal Palace say there is plenty more to come from the winger, whose talents have gone to waste at Manchester United in the last year.
Zaha secured a loan move to south London yesterday after playing just four times for United all of last season, often cutting a bereft figure on the bench.
It’s a wholly different picture for Zaha at Palace, the club where the 21-year-old scored eight goals in 29 games to help them gain promotion to the top flight in 2013.
“I’m just buzzing to be back, to be in and around the lads again,” he told the Palace website.
“The best place to come back to is Palace where I am loved.”
Zaha said he was sad to leave behind so many fantastic teammates in Manchester, though with a fresh opportunity in the Premier League he may be able to catch the eye of Louis van Gaal with a view to returning to United, or other top managers.
“It’s a great club, but since I’ve gone up there it hasn’t gone my way really.
“I haven’t really had the chance to showcase my talent or play much – that’s why I thought it would be best for me to get a loan, gain some experience and maybe go back a better player.”
Zaha is Neil Warnock’s first signing and he is looking forward to having the Yorkshireman back at Selhurst Park.
“I’m glad to have him back because obviously he’s a great manager and I’m sure he’ll know what to do with the team.
“I spoke to him as well and he told me that he would guarantee me a chance – all I’ve got to do is work hard, so I am fine with that.”
The feeling was mutual for Warnock.
“I think there is still a lot more to come from him,” he said.
“When you’re a young lad and you go to a big club like Manchester United, you can get lost because there are so many good players at a club like that.
“Hopefully he’ll have a really good season.”
Zaha has spoken how he has learnt from Ryan Giggs, Robin van Persie and Wayne Rooney.
“It was an enormous experience and obviously the players that I have trained with and spoken to have helped me a lot.
“Speaking to people like that is always going to help me in my career. Just seeing them and being with them in training I think has developed me even more.”
Because he knows the club so well, he will be hoping to settle in quickly and potentially make his return for the Eagles this weekend against Newcastle.
Main image courtesy of Crystal Palace FC via YouTube, with thanks.
