Sunday 21 September 2014 15:48, UK
Crystal Palace boss Neil Warnock says all Wilfried Zaha needs to resurrect his chances of playing for England is game-time.
Zaha, 21, is trying to kick-start his career Selhurt Park after failing to make an impact at Manchester United following a big-money move.
He made his England debut in 2012 but he hardly got a look-in since moving to Old Trafford and he has seen other young wingers such as Raheem Sterling and Andros Townsend emerge and overtake him in the international pecking order.
Zaha is now back at the club where he made his name, albeit on loan, and has already made an impact, with a last-gasp equaliser at Newcastle the highlight so far.
"I don't think his career is in jeopardy," said Warnock. "I wouldn't say we need to save his career, we just need to get games under his belt now and he needs to put himself back in the shop window (for England).
"To do that he has got to consistently be good, week in, week out. That has to be his aim this season.
"He is in that age-group that is breaking into the England squad. He is definitely looking at all these young lads - they deserve it, they have worked hard and done consistency well. It will motivate him.
"The problem has been he has not had enough games. He needs games, last week he ran out of steam a little bit but he is putting the work in on the training ground. Ability and confidence is nothing he has ever been missing.
"He has come here to try and convince the (Man United) manager that he works for that he is good enough to give him a go - that is his aim.
"His attitude has been spot-on since I met him - there were three or four clubs after him and we got him, but his intention is to try and go back there and get in the team and I think that is great for the young lad."
Warnock, 65, is also in a second stint with the Eagles and takes his side to Everton on Sunday looking for a first win of the season.
Zaha will be given the task of providing the spark for the visitors at Goodison Park, something Warnock feels his pacey forward was not given the chance to do at United.
"The results weren't very good last season and it is not easy to put a young player in," he said.
"You tend to go for experience but there were a couple of occasions I wondered why he didn't play him because I thought they lacked a bit of pace last year but it just never materialised for whatever reason, I don't really know to be honest.
"He never got two or three games on the trot, there are so many top-class players there. No disrespect to Wilfried but when you look at the players they have got it is difficult to get in the team.
"The hardest part is when you go somewhere like that for the money he did and you don't get games. That is the frustration because you can't see how you can prove yourself to somebody."
