Connor Wickham reminded everyone of his qualities as Premier League Crystal Palace drew 2-2 with AFC Wimbledon in pre-season.
Connor Wickham didn’t find the target during Crystal Palace’s 2-2 draw with AFC Wimbledon on Tuesday night, but the forgotten man did more than enough to suggest that his Selhurst Park career isn’t over just yet.
It has been a miserable couple of years for the former England youth star. Wickham has started just four Premier League games in the last two seasons after missing over a year of action following a cruciate ligament rupture in November 2016.
Now 26, the former Ipswich Town and Sunderland striker should be heading towards his peak. Instead, he is simply looking to get his career back on track.
Yet, with less than two weeks until the new season kicks off, the £8 million man certainly looked sharp against Wimbledon. Leading the line, Wickham was a real threat with his first touch impressive and his link-play catching the eye.
He was a real nuisance throughout and helped set up the first of two clinical finishes from youngster Brandon Pierrick.
Try as they might, Crystal Palace have failed to sign a new striker during the transfer window but Wickham’s finest display in many a month should ease Roy Hodgson’s fears to some extent.
So quick thoughts on tonight’s @CPFC game
— Carole Parnell (@parnell_carole) July 30, 2019
1 wickham lasted whole game & looked fit
2 Sakho almost back & was missed when he went off
3 our younglings- particularly Perrick looked useful
4 riedewald lost huge amount of weight and played better for it
5 defence looked leaky https://t.co/5bldmBmLEv
Wickham has been class tonight. #CPFC
— CPFC (@ZacCPFC) July 30, 2019
FT ratings #CPFC v #AFCW
— Wilson (@theunusedsub) July 30, 2019
Henderson - 6/10
Tavares - 3/10
Woods - 3/10
Sakho - 7/10
Hobbs - 6/10
Jairo - 5/10
McGregor - 6/10
Dreher - 7/10
Daly - 5/10
Pierrick - 6/10
Wickham - 9/10
HT musings from Kingsmeadow:
— Wilson (@theunusedsub) July 30, 2019
- 4 CBs playing in a back four is very Pulis and very worrying.
- Hobbs is all over the shop at RB, hasn't stopped a single cross
- Poor Sam Woods is really struggling on the ball
- Wickham's touch in these moist conditions has been excellent #CPFC
Wickham looking sharp, good 3rd choice striker. #CPFC
— CPFC (@ZacCPFC) July 30, 2019
Wickham running the show #Cpfc
— Mike P (@Mikeyp1981) July 30, 2019
Literally all Wickham’s work, but he gets injured a lot so no one thinks he’s good. https://t.co/LexRWGEBPI
— Jonty (@JontyCPFC) July 30, 2019
Agree Wickham's finishing was a little ropey but his touch and turns in tough conditions were fantastic. Easily the best player on the pitch for me.
— Wilson (@theunusedsub) July 30, 2019
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