‘We need to test these players’ – Crystal Palace boss makes admission on young duo
Crystal Palace boss Patrick Vieira says that he will need to test Jesurun Rak-Sakyi and Tayo Adaramola in the Premier League to see what they are capable of doing.
Rak-Sakyi made his Premier League debut for the South Londoners when Vieira brought the 19-year-old winger on in the 76th minute during the 3-0 loss to Chelsea on the opening day of the season.
Adaramola made his debut in a four-minute cameo against Hartlepool United in the fourth round of the FA Cup. The 18-year-old earned his first start for the club in the 2-1 victory against Championship side Stoke City in the following round.
The duo were included in the squad that travelled with the Eagles to Wembley for their FA Cup semi-final defeat to Chelsea.
When asked whether the pair were likely to be tested in the Premier League with six games remaining of the season, Vieira said: “We have a good idea about their potential and what they can do.
“They have spent a lot of time in training with the first team, and between them, they have played some games in the FA Cup or the league.
“We need to test those players. When to do it? that will be the question, but we will need to see what they are capable of doing.”
Rak-Sakyi was kept at Palace during the winter window, despite League One sides Accrington Stanley and Milton Keynes expressing an interest in taking him on loan for the rest of the season.
Speaking on whether the decision to keep Rak-Sakyi at Selhurst Park for the rest of the season looked to be the correct decision, Vieira added: “He is really a special talent – he has got the potential to perform at a high level.
“But as a football club, we need to create that pathway to allow him to go to the next step.
“That may be him staying with us, or it may be him going out on loan, but it’s too early to make that decision.
“We will need to sit and try and make the best decision to allow him to keep progressing.”