Wilfried Zaha is currently out injured and Tottenham reportedly hold an interest, meaning Roy Hodgson must swiftly find a way to work without him.
Crystal Palace are far from alone at the bottom of the Premier League table in being heavily reliant on one key man.
Newcastle United’s defence crumbled without Jamaal Lascelles, while West Ham United’s performances have relied heavily on Marko Arnautovic.
At Selhurst Park, Wilfried Zaha is the man Palace rely on – and that is proving to be quite an issue.
The Ivory Coast international was injured on the first day of the season and Palace did not pick up a single point until Zaha returned to inspire a surprise home win over champions Chelsea in mid-October.
The winger’s fine form propelled his side to apparent safety under Roy Hodgson, but he was injured again in a draw with Newcastle and Palace then lost to inconsistent Everton.
Hodgson, speaking to the club’s official website, denied reports that Zaha would miss the rest of the season, but he remains out of action and Palace simply must find a way to win without their star man.
Not only would the side face an uphill battle to stay up if Zaha’s return was delayed, but Tottenham Hotspur are again sniffing around the 25-year-old – per the Mirror.
Few could blame Zaha for joining a high-flying outfit as Palace rely so heavily on his output, meaning the Eagles must be prepared in the event their man decides to leave.
The next few weeks will offer Hodgson an opportunity to trial a few options without Zaha.
The successful identification of a system could prove key, not just for this season but for Palace’s Premier League future.
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