Murray has faith Eddie’s ready for hot scoring streak
GLENN MURRAY has backed Eddie Nketiah to come good for Crystal Palace – but warned the forward will have to bide his time.
The former Arsenal frontman is still waiting for his first Premier League goal for his new club after his £30million switch to Selhurst Park last summer.
Nketiah, who has scored twice in the Carabao Cup, has been forced to watch from the sidelines as red-hot team-mate JeanPhilippe Mateta has taken centre stage with four goals in his last three matches.
But ex-Eagles striker Murray believes the 25-year-old will eventually prove his worth to Palace.
Speaking ahead of this afternoon’s home clash with Brentford, he said: “I’m confident Eddie Nketiah’s move will work out because he was signed for big money and you don’t lose that overnight.
“He can only get better as he’s not had quite the impact he would have liked at the football club.
“I think the stumbling block in all fairness is the form of their big No.9 Mateta. He’s pretty much undroppable.
“He might not have certain attributes Eddie’s got, but what he does is influence games in a positive manner.
“He gives a platform for the team to get up front, to
get forward. I feel as though he’s at a moment in his career when he does get a chance, he’s confident in front of goal.
“We’ve seen Eddie coming in and he’s playing off the right and the manager tried to shoehorn him in.
“He was getting him into positions that don’t really suit Eddie.
“He’s an out-and-out nine and the club were aware of that when they signed him.
“But you’ve got to give a little nod of the head to Mateta for being in fine form.”
Palace have climbed up the table after a good run of form and will be searching for their third win on the spin when they entertain the Bees.
Oliver Glasner’s men have recovered from a slow start and will be pushing for a top-half finish, despite losing talisman Michael Olise last summer.
Murray added: “I think they’ve got one of the best squads they have ever had in the Premier League.
“They’ve got a nice mix of players.
“I think they are three exceptional centre-backs. I really like Adam Wharton in midfield.
“Eberechi Eze, he’s got that X-factor. I just think the age of the group, I think there’s an understanding of where they are.”
Glenn Murray was speaking on behalf of
10bet.