Bradford loanee Scott Banks on Crystal Palace future and Paddy McCarthy’s first team promotion

BY EDMUND BRACK & ANDREW MCSTEEN

Scott Banks has been asked about his Crystal Palace future after the forward excelled on loan at League Two side Bradford City in the season just passed.

Scottish winger Banks won the Bantams Supporters’ Trust Young Player of the Season at Valley Parade after scoring six goals and picking up five assists in 35 appearances under Mark Hughes.

The 21-year-old joined Palace in January 2020 and has also had loan spells at Alloa Athletic and Dunfermline Athletic during his time with the Eagles.

Banks, who had just been knocked out of the League Two play-offs with Bradford, returned to Selhurst Park and played 105 minutes in the 3-1 Premier League International Cup final defeat to PSV last week, scoring the only goal for Darren Powell’s Crystal Palace U21 side.

“I find that tough to answer at the moment,” admitted Banks to the South London Press when asked about his future with the Eagles and where he sees himself next season.

“I have to see what Palace want to do and where a good option is for me. There are too many things and too many variables for me to answer that question right now.

“I just need to go and recover – just see what’s there for me when I come back.

Paddy McCarthy was promoted to Crystal Palace’s first-team coaching staff after Patrick Vieira was sacked. The former Palace captain was announced as Roy Hodgson’s assistant manager, with Ray Lewington being awarded the title of first-team coach.

The return of Hodgson saw Palace secure an 11th consecutive season in the top-flight.

Banks scored 10 times in 17 Premier League 2 appearances under McCarthy in the 2021-22 season.

“I’m delighted for him,” Banks said of McCarthy’s promotion.

“He’s very demanding and asked a lot of me last year – he developed my game massively off the ball.

“To see him kick on and get that opportunity shows us all as a squad that if he can make that step up, then, if we’re performing at that level, he knows what we’re like, and we can maybe get a chance.

“It was great to see. We had a lot of success last year under him and we know what he’s about. He’s a real, good manager. I wish him all the best and hope he gets more opportunities.”