Crystal Palace manager has no doubts on striker

Patrick Vieira has “no doubt” that Crystal Palace forward Jordan Ayew will rediscover his goalscoring touch.

Ayew, who missed the opportunity to extend Palace’s lead last Monday against Brighton after he put the ball into the sidenetting when one-on-one with Robert Sanchez, has only one goal in his previous 50 Crystal Palace appearances.

The Ghanaian international, 30, has started every game bar one since the French World Cup winner took charge over the summer.

Speaking on whether Ayew’s crucial miss on Monday night could become a catalyst to help rediscover his goalscoring form, Vieira said: “What is really important for Jordan is for him to know and to understand that, as a manager and a football club, we have 100 per cent confidence in his potential and the quality that he can score goals – there is no doubt about it.

“He has got the support from the team, from the manager, the staff and the football club; there is no question on that side. We don’t have any kind of doubt of what he is capable of doing on the field.

“Saying that, this is one of the parts of his game that he needs to improve because we want, and I want him to score more goals. How can we do that is by working on his confidence and more on training where he will be in the situation he will face in a game.

“With the support that we will give him, with the work that we will put in place, he will score goals; I don’t have any doubt about it. It’s important for him to keep his head up and keep working the way he has been so far.”

Vieira has also insisted that summer signing Michael Olise is “ready to challenge” the forwards at the club following his two cameo appearances against Liverpool and Tottenham. Olise, who notched up seven goals and 12 assists on his route to picking up the EFL Young Player of the Year, missed the start of pre-season under Vieira after suffering a back injury.

When asked about where he sees the 19-year-old fitting into his side, Vieira said: “What is really interesting with Michael is that he can play in different positions. When he came on against Liverpool, he came on just behind the number nine as a number 10, and he was quite good. He can play on the right-hand side, coming in with his left foot. Michael needed time to adapt to the new club and adapt to the tempo and physicality of the Premier League, and he is ready.

“Yes, he will get more and more involved through the season, and he is ready to challenge the front players.”