Thursday 22 January 2015 16:48, UK
Crystal Palace manager Alan Pardew says on-loan winger Wilfried Zaha’s task for the second half of the season is to secure a regular starting place.
And, while Pardew is delighted with what he has seen from the 22-year-old Manchester United man so far, he is not sure whether the Eagles will be able to re-sign the fan favourite on a permanent basis.
Zaha made his name as a hugely exciting young talent at Palace but, having been sold to Manchester United, he struggled for game time at Old Trafford.
He is now halfway through a season-long loan deal back with Palace and has been in fine form since Pardew took over as manager.
Asked if the deal might be made permanent, Pardew said: “I'm not sure about that option. What I do know is that he's a player that needs to get his career on the move again.
“He's had a decent couple of games and he needs to build on that. I think that is where he's at.
Wilfried has got a lot going for him and he has the potential to have an impact on the international stage at some point. I think the opportunities at Manchester United have been limited and that has been a problem.
“He's a talent that needs to nail down a permanent position here, whether he's on loan or permanent, but I've been very pleased with what I have seen."
Zaha has two England caps to his name and Pardew thinks more could come his way now he is getting regular Premier League football again.
"He has certainly got the ability," said Pardew. "Wilfried has got a lot going for him and he has the potential to have an impact on the international stage at some point. I think the opportunities at Manchester United have been limited and that has been a problem.
"That has been a problem particularly at the top four or five clubs. Wilf is one of the lucky ones in that he has a platform on which he can play."
Pardew has been linked with a move for Blackburn forward Rudy Gestede while the transfer window is open but is remaining quiet about possible deals at the moment.
Asked if an approach had been made for Gestede, Pardew said: “Not that I'm aware of. I think we've enquired on about three, four or five different players and whether they're available - that's really where we're at.
"The chairman is pursuing some lines of enquiry in the right manner, in the way it should be conducted. Unfortunately, that is not in front of the press. I'm not going to talk about other players at other clubs. I don't think that's fair."
