Patrick Vieira gives his verdict on Crystal Palace’s strikers – and what they are lacking

Crystal Palace head coach Patrick Vieira says the only component his forward players are missing in front of goal is confidence.

Although the Eagles scored 10 goals in five games during pre-season under the Frenchman, Palace have failed to find the net in their opening three fixtures since the competitive campaign began.

“We are in a period where we are building something. We are learning a lot about the way we want to play, and we have players coming in, so it’s difficult for us at the moment to gel as a team.

“With what the players have been doing in the last couple of weeks, we have shown that we are improving. I don’t have any doubts about the forwards that we have in our squad; they just need that type of confidence and belief that they can score goals.”

Christian Benteke and Wilfried Zaha reached double figures for the Eagles last season, with Zaha recording the best goalscoring tally of his career to date, with 11 goals for the campaign under Roy Hodgson.

Vieira added: “When you look at wha Benteke and Wilfried have been doing in the league in the last couple of years, I don’t have any doubt that they can do it again. Those kinds of players can score between 10-15 goals a season because they have done it already.

“It’s about me as the manager to put them in a comfortable zone where they can express themselves.”

Palace visit the London Stadium tomorrow, with Vieira taking on David Moyes’ top-of-the-table West Ham United, who have scored eight goals in their opening two Premier League outings.

Speaking about whether it would be a good idea for Palace to emulate the Hammers, who qualified for the Europa League last season, as he looks to develop his side, Vieira said: “There is not a right way to build a team. It’s important for me to know the philosophy and the identity of this football club and to bring the right players to build a successful football club.

“The West Ham story is completely different from the Palace story. We have to use our tools. We have to use our knowledge to build a team that can compete in the Premier League. If we try to copy West Ham or any other teams, we will get it wrong.

“What is important is to know what we have here and where we want to go, and we have to go step by step, but we will make it. We have only played two games, and it’s nothing to worry about.

“I am really confident about what I am seeing from the players in training and what I am seeing in the last games we played. We will have a team that can compete in the Premier League.”