‘It’s been a rollercoaster’ – Franco Umeh on first full Crystal Palace season after Premier League International Cup glory

Crystal Palace U21s lifted the Premier League International Cup at Selhurst Park on Wednesday night after a 1-0 win over Jong PSV.

The Eagles, who lost 3-1 in last year’s final to the same opposition, secured all three points through Franco Umeh’s deflected effort in the 67th minute.

Umeh has been converted to a left-wing back this season for the South Londoners and also went with Oliver Glasner’s first team to the mid-season training camp in Marbella.

The Ireland U19 international has also been on the bench five times in the Premier League this season.

“It’s been a rollercoaster,” Umeh admitted of his first full season at Selhrust Park since joining from Cork City in 2019.

“At the start of the season, results weren’t going our way, but then we started playing better. I started at right wing but then I moved to left-wing back – left back sometimes – but I’m just happy to be on the pitch and do whatever I can to help the team win the games.

“It’s been a struggle [adapting], but Powelly [Darren Powell] has been nailing it in my head. We’ve been doing analysis of clips after games and after training, the coaching staff have helped me so much in adapting to this position.

“The way Glasner plays, with the attacking outlets, I try and take on as much as I can when training because it’s a new position and I can learn so much from experienced players like [Daniel] Munoz and Tyrick Mitchell.”