Crystal Palace attacker thriving – not hating – increased competition for a starting spot

BY ANDREW MCSTEEN

Jordan Ayew has hailed Crystal Palace boss Patrick Vieira with his ongoing development this season as the 30-year-old looks to help his side to a top-10 Premier League finish for just the second time since their return to the top-flight in 2013.

Since joining the SE25 outfit, initially on loan in 2018 before securing a permanent move, the 30-year-old has scored 14 times in 131 appearances for the cub, with just a pair of strikes this season and one last season.

Even though casual observers of the club may wonder about that return for the striker, Vieira is in no doubt about the effectiveness of the former Swansea player, utilising him in a variety of positions across midfield and in attack.

Marseille-born Ayew has played the eighth-most minutes in the Premier League for Vieira this season – ahead of James McArthur, Cheikhou Kouyate, Jean-Philippe Mateta and Michael Olise.

“It’s a different position for me because I came to the club as a striker and now they prefer me on the wings,” Ayew told the South London Press. “I really don’t mind because I can do it. It’s very, very important for me to have the confidence from the club and from the manager.

“Obviously I score fewer goals, but I give more assists, so it’s a switch. I’m still enjoying it and I try give my best every time.

“It’s important for me to keep on learning because I still have a long, long way to go in football. With this manager I’m learning a lot, I’m really enjoying myself and I hope it continues.”

Ayew is fourth behind Tyrick Mitchell, Conor Gallagher and Kouyate in overall tackles made for the club in the league this season, many of which are in crucial areas of the field or result in the playing himself being fouled and allowing breaks in the game or opportunities to put the ball into the opponent’s box.

Ayew is on for a personal milestone of appearances in a season, with tomorrow’s visit of Watford likely to be his 40th in all competitions this season, having playing in the EFL Cup, FA Cup and Premier League for the Eagles as well as World Cup qualifiers and the African Nations Cup for Ghana. Only Marc Guehi, on 40, can top that in the Palace squad.

Ayew’s best scoring return for Palace was nine in the 2019-20 season when he finished as the club top scorer. With an exciting crop of young, exciting attackers finding their feet in the squad this season, some players may worry about their place in the team. Instead Ayew relishes the opportunity to prove himself.

“It’s a pleasure to see everyone -Odsonne [Edouard], Christian [Benteke], [Eberechi] Eze, Olise, Wilf [Zaha], JP [Mateta], there’s a really, really healthy competition,” he said.

“It pushes you to give your best. It’s something that in football is there and we’re enjoying it because the club wants to go to the next level and if there’s no competition it will be difficult. With the competition we can go to the next level.”

That next level is still within reach thanks to a 2-1 win at Southampton last Saturday after two classy finishes from Eze and Zaha in the second half after a frustrating opening period. It put paid to a run of four matches without a win.

The Eagles have the possibility of finishing in their highest-ever Premier League finish and points total. Ayew expects the level of their squad to keep improving.

“As time goes on we will become better and there’ll be more to come from everyone,” he said. “We want to keep on winning and see where we’ll be at the end of the season.

“We were more compact, linking up better in the second half and the moment we started linking up, finding our feet, we were on top of Southampton.

“Even in the first half we started slow, but after 25, 30 minutes we were on top of them. We had opportunities, we didn’t score, but we’re still in the process and we’re getting there.”

Asked about the strikes from Zaha and Eze, Ayew responded: “We have been seeing this in training all the time from all the strikers who have really, really good qualities.

“It’s more of the style of play that we are playing now. As forwards, we have more balls in and around the box. Wilf’s in good positions and he does what he does best – to dribble and take on players.”

PICTURES: KEITH GILLARD