Roy Hodgson calls on Crystal Palace to build their future around ‘talismanic’ Wilfried Zaha

Crystal Palace manager Roy Hodgson has praised the “talismanic quality” of forward Wilfried Zaha and believes that the club can build their future around the 25-year-old.

The Ivory Coast international signed a new five-year deal earlier this week, a move which his manager believes puts an end to all talk of him leaving anytime soon.

“First of all it means any speculation around his future is quashed. It’s very good that a player of his ability has committed his long-term future to the club.

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“We think of him very highly, both as a person and as a player. I think he has a talismanic quality when it comes to this part of the world and starting his career at Crystal Palace.

“When you sign a contract of that length and that magnitude, that’s where you intend to be for the coming years. It gives the chairman and Dougie Freedman a chance to do some very serious planning for the future, and of course he’s a player that we’d like to plan around,” the 71-year-old said as he prepares to face Liverpool on Monday.

The former Liverpool manager admitted that the coaching staff were “anxious” for Zaha to sign his new terms, but has now challenged the academy graduate to take his game to the next level.

“He’s very, very good. He scores top marks in so many aspects of the game, and when it comes to dribbling and manipulating the ball and going past opponents, I put him up there with the very best.

“We’ve made it clear to him that we are grateful of course for what he did for us last season. He did a lot for us last season with his goals and his assists and the way he played and we’ve tried to make it clear to him that we need a lot more of that going forward,” Hodgson added.

Zaha opened his account for the season in the Eagles’ 2-0 victory over Fulham at Craven Cottage, but Christian Benteke struggled to find the net last season, managing just three goals in 30 appearances.

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However, Hodgson has backed the Belgian to put those woes behind him and bounce back against his former club on Monday night.

“It would mean a lot for him to score against Liverpool. He’s desperate to put the disappointment of last season behind him.

“It won’t be difficult to motivate Christian Benteke, it never is and it certainly won’t be on Monday night,” Hodgson stated.

While one experienced Premier League figure struggles, inexperienced Aaron Wan-Bissaka thrived towards the end of last season and the opening day, but his manager wants the 20-year-old defender to keep his feet firmly grounded.

“We believe strongly in him and we think he’s got the qualities to become a top right-back. He had a very good game, but you must remember he is still young.

“He’s only played eight Premier League games. I think it is better that we allow him to continue and learn his trade without trying to raise him up on pedestals to then saw the legs off the pedestals when it suits us,” Hodgson added.