With the FA Cup third round on the horizon, Crystal Palace will most likely be resting a number of their first-team stars following a hectic festive schedule which will surely have taken its toll on the players’ fitness.
As a result, we should see some fringe players take to the Selhurst Park pitch in a bid to prove themselves, with Jairo Riedewald perhaps having the most to do in order to save his career in south London.
Why does he need to prove himself?
The Holland international has made just three starts this season, with all of them coming in the Carabao Cup; he hasn’t even come off the bench in the Premier League. This comes after the 22-year-old made only seven starts across all competitions last season in what was his first venture away from Ajax, but he is looking more and more like a man facing the consequences of Frank de Boer’s botched tenure every week in SE25.
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It was de Boer who bought him to the club for around £7m, having coached Riedewald in Amsterdam during their time together with the Dutch giants, but after the current Atlanta United boss lost his job after just four league games, his successor Roy Hodgson has never really fancied the midfielder too much.
Palace even attempted to use him as a makeweight in a bid to sign Jordan Ayew on a permanent deal from Swansea back in the summer, only for Riedewald’s reluctance to move bringing that deal to a close – the fact that he prevented the Eagles from wasting a reported £11m on the Ghanaian is perhaps his biggest contribution during his time in south London.
He must take his chance
After reading the above, it’s obvious that Palace don’t view Riedewald as a player they need within their ranks. Having said that, in his few appearances for the club, he has looked disciplined, composed and a good passer who is always happy to receive the ball and look to play forward.
Perhaps he would be a better fit under a manager who values a possession-based game, rather than Hodgson’s more conservative style. If he had any pride about himself, however, he will want to prove everyone wrong – performing well against the visiting League Two side would be a good way to start.
