‘There’s a direct parallel’: Hodgson compares 21-year-old Crystal Palace ace to £50m star

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Crystal Palace boss Roy Hodgson has talked to Sky Sports about Tyrick Mitchell after his impressive start to the season.

The 21-year-old was brought into the starting line-up at the end of last season following Patrick van Aanholt’s injury. Mitchell has seized his opportunity and become a fans’ favourite.

The youngster has started Palace’s first two league games and has been hugely impressive. Hodgson was asked about the youngster’s displays in the league this season, with the Eagles boss comparing him to one of the club’s former stars.

Is Mitchell the new Wan-Bissaka?

He said: “Tyrick got his chance last season when Patrick dislocated his shoulder and he has taken that chance well and really continued it since the start of the new season.

“I hope he will continue to improve and I hope people won’t start to put exceptional pressure on him because he’s still a very young man and in the nursery in terms of his career.

“Aaron (Wan-Bissaka) looked very much like Tyrick when he came in and took the game by storm. He made the position his own very quickly.

“I wouldn’t disagree that in terms of being thrown in with no-one knowing much about him, I think there’s a direct parallel between the two players.”

Wan-Bissaka came out of nowhere and became an instant hit at Selhurst Park. The Englishman secured a £50 million move to Manchester United last year and has developed into one of the best right-backs in the league.

Mitchell, still only 21, has a bright future. The young Englishman will get a lot of opportunities this season if he continues this form, and could well attract interest from a big club, just like Wan-Bissaka did last year.

It will be interesting to see what Hodgson decides when Van Aanholt returns from injury. The Dutchman has been an integral part of the Palace side since he joined them from Sunderland in 2017.

If Mitchell continues to play as well as he has recently, Van Aanholt might have to settle for a spot on the bench, which would be a huge boost for the youngster’s confidence.