‘Best players I’ve played with’ – Former Man United keeper has huge praise for Palace duo Eze and Olise

BY ANDREW MCSTEEN

Crystal Palace goalkeeper Dean Henderson says that the sky is the limit for Eberechi Eze and Michael Olise – the former Manchester United man adding they are “probably the best two players I’ve played with”.

A much-needed three points in the Premier League were secured on Tuesday night for Crystal Palace when the home side saw off bottom-placed Sheffield United in a come-from-behind 3-2 win inspired by the dual attacking threat of Olise and Eze.

After going behind 1-0 after just 21 seconds to a Ben Brereton Diaz opener, the Eagles rallied and, led by Olise, drew level thanks to yet another assist from the former Reading attacking midfielder, who put the ball on a plate for Eze to stab home in front of the Holmesdale Stand.

But the visitors went ahead again just three minutes later in an action-packed first half, James McAtee’s shot deflecting off of Marc Guehi and over stranded goalkeeper Henderson.

However, Eze and Olise then combined again, this time Olise playing the ball into England international Eze just outside the Sheffield United box. After adjusting himself, the Greenwich-born player then guided the ball home with purpose from distance on his left foot).

The second half was less frantic but Olise, left unguarded on the right wing played the ball into Jean-Philippe Mateta, but his attempted cross fell back out of the box to Olise, who then, first-time, half-volleyed the ball in from distance to seal three points, with both Olise and Eze withdrawn from action for the final third of proceedings to manage their load with both having come back recently from injury.

“I was right behind them, it was unbelievable,” said Henderson about his view of the trio of Palace goals. “Eze’s second especially, that’s his weaker foot as well. He does that every day to be fair (in training), and obviously Michael we know what he’s capable of – cutting in and hitting it in the far corner, on the volley.

“It’s lovely to watch the way they rotate, the confidence they have on the ball,” added Henderson to the South London Press. “They are top, top players and it’s great to see. I’m with them every day, so I sort of know them well. It’s good going up against them in training and they enjoy shooting at us as well.

“This is the best game I’ve seen him (Eze) play. But these boys (Eze and Olise) will get better and better. They’ve only just come back from injury as well and you’ve got to remember that, it takes a run of games to get back up to that level.

“They can be as good as they want to be. The pair of them are probably the best two players I’ve actually played with, which is strange. But listen, we want to keep them here and we want to build a team around them boys and hopefully we can really kick on into the European positions in the years to come.

“The boys have done excellent, but it’s everything behind them as well. Everyone’s doing other jobs to make them flourish as well. It’s a team game and the boys all stuck together. At the end, the last 20 minutes was difficult, them two boys weren’t on the pitch and the boys defended well to get us over the line.”

With 11 minutes of additional time in the second half, it made for a tight ending especially when the visitors hit the bar from an Anel Ahmedhodzic header, but a win was secured and it was one which eases pressure on the Eagles league position – now six points off the relegation spots, and the manager himself.

“We’ve been playing well but the Arsenal game (5-0 loss) was a spanner in the works, but that can happen at any stage of the season unfortunately, but the boys have actually played really well and just not picked up the results. We’ve picked up three now and hopefully that can build up a run, build momentum and that’s all we’ve got to do.

“But three points don’t come easy in this league no matter who you play against,” said Henderson about the victory, which was Palace’s sixth Premier League win of the season.

“Sheffield United put up a great fight and caught us wrong-footed from the start but the boys responded really well and showed great courage.

“The game was similar to what happened against Brentford (which the Eagles won 3-1 at Selhurst Park in December after going 1-0 down in the second minute). “We were 1-0 down within a minute (sic) in that game as well and it almost shot a rocket up our backside; we come back and won that game and today we showed great character.

“To go behind twice, with a freak second goal as well, it was unlucky, but the lads just showed great character and a few of the forward players expressed themselves and look really good and hopefully that will build confidence going into the next match.”

That next match is away at rivals Brighton on Saturday and Henderson knows all too well about what it means to the sets of fans.

“The fans will be with us all the way so we’ve got to go and put a good show of ourselves and hopefully get the three points,” he said. “We’ve just got to get after it.”

The Brighton game could see the debut of new Palace signing, Colombian right back Daniel Munoz, who Henderson said he had met, but had not trained with yet.

Henderson is concentrating on retaining his place in the first time, under constant pressure from fellow England international, and friend, Sam Johnstone.

“When Sam played I supported him and I was on the touchline with injury,” said Henderson. “Sam’s a great guy, we get on really well and we’ve just got to stay professional between us and keep working hard because both of us will be needed at some stage, but as a goalkeeper you get better with a run of games and nothing really else comes into it.”

MAIN PICTURE: KEITH GILLARD