Eberechi Eze’s talent and offensive ability needs to be harnessed better than a bench spot at Crystal Palace

Eberechi Eze’s cameo at Brentford’s Gtech Community Stadium reminded everyone what the Crystal Palace playmaker is capable of, but perhaps it also showed why he has dropped out of their starting line-up in recent weeks.

Seeing the club’s third top goalscorer and joint second goal-creator sitting on the bench raises eyebrows for a squad that is lacking firepower and has struggled to breach opposition defences.

Eze has somewhat stuttered since he made Gareth Southgate’s 55-man preliminary England squad before failing to make the final cut for the 2022 Qatar World Cup.

Palace boss Patrick Vieira has not found a starting-11 spot in four of the last five outings for the Greenwich-born attacker.

Eze was also part of England’s provisional squad for Euro 2020 before an achilles injury, suffered in May, ruled him out for seven months.

“Ebs finds it difficult, just like (Odsonne) Edouard – players find it difficult when they’re not playing,” said Vieira of Eze’s reaction to being benched before Saturday’s trip to west London.

“It’s not about Ebs, it’s about the team and the football club.

“It’s my responsibility for those players who are not playing as much as they would want, to give them the support and to make them understand they are really important for this football club.

“Ebs went through a long injury. He came back, and his form went a little bit down – but his quality and how I see him as a player will never change. He’s an important player for the way I want to play the game and I will show him all the love he needs to get back to where I believe he can be.”

There was Premier League interest in Eze last season. But after picking up just two goal contributions – one goal and one assist – in 13 outings in all competitions, he is now fighting for an attacking place in the side alongside Jeffrey Schlupp.

There have been moments throughout the season which remind you how naturally talented the 24-year-old truly is.

His performance in the 3-1 win against Aston Villa at the beginning of the season was majestic, dictating the tempo of the game from a more advanced midfield role and driving into open space.

Goals also became an important aspect of his notable start to the season, bagging the winner against Leeds and an equaliser a fortnight later against Wolves.

And after replacing Albert Sambi Lokonga on Saturday in the 63rd minute, Eze was the catalyst for his goal and Palace’s opener six minutes later.

He picked up possession just inside Palace’s attacking half and immediately took three Brentford players out of the game with a slick turn and perfectly-weighted pass to Jordan Ayew. With the ball finding its way on to Michael Olise’s deadly left foot, Eze evaded the Bees defence and darted towards the back post to head Palace into the lead.

“I just need to work hard and try my best,” said the former QPR playmaker. “When I’m called upon, I try to deliver.”

The Palace boss explained after the game that Eze brought a touch of “quality” to the side with his performance but he was also partially at fault for Brentford’s equaliser.

With the Eagles holding on for dear life, trying to secure their first win of 2023, neither Eze nor Schlupp closed down Bryan Mbeumo on the left-hand side, which allowed Vitaly Janelt to head past Vicente Guaita to snatch a point with the last kick of the game.

It is the conundrum that Patrick Vieira has to solve.

The Frenchman has switched to a more pragmatic approach since the heavy home defeats to Fulham and Spurs, but with the attacking swagger Eze possesses, his talent is surely too important to be limited to short spurts off the bench.