With Olise Crystal Palace will not miss Zaha
Born in London, Olise has played for France Under-18, while Nigeria have moved to try to persuade him to play for them above England.
Not too far into the future, Crystal Palace could have to contemplate life without Wilfried Zaha, and not since Yannick Bolasie have they had such an exciting alternative attacking player.
Nigeria born Michael Olise made the £8 million move from Reading last summer saying that the Premier League was a level he was ready for, but it is quite another thing to have so seamlessly made the step up in his first season.
There were moments against Burnley that showed the 20-year-old’s awareness, touch, quick feet and growing confidence, and others that proved he has the trust of Zaha, through their clever combinations.
It was encapsulated in one early move when Zaha wriggled across the area and squared for Olise, who ignored the darting run of Conor Gallagher and shifted the ball before striking it over the bar.
Olise twice fed Zaha to test Nick Pope, then struck the far post. Their threat was reminiscent of Bolasie and Zaha, who will enter the final year of his contract this summer and is thought to be keen to move to a bigger club.
Schlupp has scored more Premier League goals versus Burnley than he has against any other side in the competition (three)Schlupp has scored more Premier League goals versus Burnley than he has against any other side in the competition (three)
Schlupp has scored more Premier League goals versus Burnley than he has against any other side in the competition (three)
“With Wilfried coming inside, Michael on the opposite side, that allowed us to create chances one versus one,” Patrick Vieira, the Palace manager, said. “They understand the game and have a really good connection together.”
Olise contributed to an eighth goal in his past ten appearances when he rolled his left foot over the ball to fool Dwight McNeil and curled a brilliant cross for Jeffrey Schlupp to turn in.
Erik Pieters’ answer was to chop Olise down. He needed treatment and was less penetrative after the break.
Born in London, Olise has played for France Under-18, while Nigeria have moved to try to persuade him to play for them above England.
Palace’s 12th draw of the season showed they lack a finisher to get on the end of crosses. Vieira left three strikers on the bench, using Zaha centrally to drag the centre backs out of position, but he often shifted to the left and there was no one in the box.
Palace were left to rue missed chances when Tyrick Mitchell, the left back, switched off to let in Aaron Lennon, whose cross deflected off Luka Milivojevic for the equaliser.
Lennon, 34, was one of the catalysts for an improved second-half display by Burnley, who have taken seven points in three games. “Aaron is still the fastest player at the club,” Sean Dyche, the Burnley manager, said.
