‘A good challenge’ – Palace’s Wharton on Premier League step up

BY ANDREW MCSTEEN

Crystal Palace midfielder Adam Wharton believes the challenge of moving up from the Championship to the Premier League is making him a better player.

The 20-year-old moved to South London from Blackburn at the beginning of February and has gone on to start all nine games under new manager Oliver Glasner, having started twice and coming on a sub once under previous boss Roy Hodgson.

“It’s definitely a step up from the championship, but I’m enjoying it,” said the player, who celebrated his 20th birthday a few days after moving to SE25. “It’s a good challenge. I like challenges. It’s just helping me get better and better each game I play and I just want to keep on improving, keep playing, become a better player and help the team.

“It’s a big difference; the countryside to the city and there’s a lot of change, a lot more going on,” added Wharton about the move from Blackburn to London. “There’s always something going on in London, it’s a lot busier, but there’s plenty of things to do and when you’re living on your own, that’s not necessarily a bad thing.”

Wharton has quickly become an integral player in the Eagles squad, who have now won their last three Premier League games in a row, including a 2-0 victory over Newcastle United at Selhurst Park on Wednesday night.

Combined with wins away at Liverpool and a 5-2 home demolition of West Ham last Sunday it now means that Palace are mathematically safe from relegation and can enjoy their 12th, successive year in the top flight.

“Delighted [but] I don’t think that was sort of at the front of our minds,” said Wharton to TalkSport after the 2-0 win on Wednesday ensured safety. “We’re just taking each game as it goes, but it was great to get the three points. [That’s] three wins in a row now for us, we’re building some momentum and we just want to keep that going.

“Everyone’s working together as a team, we’re playing some good football at the same time and we’re getting on top of other teams. This is how the gaffer wants us to play. We’re doing everything we can to implement his way of playing and it’s working.

“I’ve not really thought about that, to be honest,” replied the England U21 international when asked about the target for next season. “We’re just trying to take each game as it goes, try and keep improving as a team and get results to climb the table before the end of the season.”