Zaha Tipped To Prove He's Ready By Inspiring Palace
WILFRIED ZAHA can bag a starting spot in David Moyes’ Manchester United team by wowing Wembley today.
That is the verdict of Crystal Palace legend Vince Hilaire, who is tipping the winger to wipe out Watford in today’s £120million Championship decider.
England Under-21 star Zaha joined United for £15million in January before being loaned back to the Eagles.
And Hilaire — who played 293 times for Palace between 1977-84 — says the whizkid can become an Old Trafford regular by helping the Londoners to promotion.
Hilaire, 53, said: “With a new manager coming in at United, Zaha has the chance against Watford to fire himself into the reckoning at Old Trafford.
“None of the three wide players at United — Nani, Antonio Valencia or Ashley Young — have pulled up any trees this season.
“If Zaha puts on a decent performance at Wembley, he could end up starting next season in David Moyes’ first team.
“There is no bigger incentive than that and I expect him to be right on the ball.”
Zaha, 20, went off the boil after United signed him, scoring only one goal in the second half of the regular season.
But he was back to his blistering best in the play-offs as his double earned a 2-0 second-leg win at Brighton to send Palace to Wembley.
Hilaire said: “After being signed by the biggest club in the world you cannot blame him for thinking: ‘That’s my season done, roll on next year’.
“It arguably took the play-offs against one of Palace’s biggest rivals to fire him back to his best.”
Hilaire reckons Zaha could go on to become a global superstar at United.
He said: “I compare him to Cristiano Ronaldo — he’s got very quick feet and an eye for goal.
“I just hope he gets the chance at United to show what he can do.”