Patrick Vieira challenges Crystal Palace winger to be ‘more consistent’ in training

Crystal Palace Patrick Vieira has challenged Malcolm Ebiowei to be more consistent in training and has discussed the possibility of the winger leaving the club on loan in January.

The 19-year-old joined the club on a five-year deal in the summer after leaving Derby County on a free transfer.

Ebiowei has only played a total of 19 minutes in the Premier League this season – 15 of those minutes coming in the 3-0 defeat away to Everton.

It was reported over the weekend by The Sun that Ebiowei will be allowed to leave Selhurst Park on loan in January.

“It’s too early to talk about it,” said Vieira when asked whether he thought the best course of action for Ebiowei’s development was to head out on loan in the upcoming window.

“Malcolm is a young player who will keep working and needs to be more consistent in his training to allow him to play a little bit more. 

“He still needs to develop himself to understand what you need to play Premier League football.”

Vieira chose to keep academy graduate Jesurun Rak-Sakyi around the first team for the whole of last season before allowing him to sign for Charlton on a season-long loan in the summer.

Ebiowei, who had spells at Chelsea, Arsenal and Rangers as a youngster, made 16 appearances under Wayne Rooney in the Championship as Derby were relegated to League One.

“We have to look at what he will need next,” added Vieira of Ebiowei.

“In the break, we will sit down with Malcolm and the people around [him] to decide what he needs next to step forward to keep developing himself.”