Crystal Palace have plenty of young talents who are in with a chance to impress Pierre Sage this summer, considering 12 senior stars are still on holiday after partaking in the World Cup.
There were plenty of academy products on show in the 5-1 friendly win over Swindon Town last time out, as the likes of Charlie Walker-Smith and George King started in defence, while Joel Drakes-Thomas and Dean Benamar came on at the interval to play the second half.
Considering Crystal Palace could have to play a total of 67 games in all competitions next season, Sage may find himself needing to call upon some academy talents.
With several talents leaving in recent years, a pathway to the senior side must open up under Pierre Sage… 😬
We are Palace have now taken a look at the quartet who we feel are closest to a breakthrough, ranked in order from four to one.
4. Dean Benamar
The muscular left-back made his full debut for Crystal Palace last season in the 2-2 UEFA Conference League draw against KuPS, impressing with his athleticism and efficiency on the ball down the left flank.
The England U18 international would be higher on this list but for the fact Borna Sosa and Tyrick Mitchell are blocking his pathway to more senior action.
Having said that, Sosa failed to impress when called upon last season and will only have 12 months left on his contract next summer, so there is a real opportunity for Benamar to impress Sage in pre-season and move up the pecking order.
3. Charlie Walker-Smith
As aforesaid, Sage handed the 18-year-old a start in the opening friendly against Swindon Town, having recently promoted the central defender to first-team training after replacing Oliver Glasner.
Walker-Smith is a towering figure at the back who also possesses the technical ability to punch passes through the lines and drive forward with the ball, so much so that the teenager has actually been likened to Declan Rice.
There are plenty of names in his way, as Sage already has Chadi Riad, Jaydee Canvot and Chris Richards to make up his three-man defence, not to mention the seemingly imminent arrival of Raphael le Guen from Brest.
However, Riad will need to be rotated or else Crystal Palace risk plunging the Moroccan back into his injury nightmare, so some strong showings from Walker-Smith could put him into Sage’s thinking.
If not Walker-Smith, George King, who also started at the back against Swindon Town and that aforementioned clash against KuPS, could win over Sage.
2. David Ozoh
There is seemingly a real opportunity for Ozoh to finally become a regular figure in the Crystal Palace first-team.
Two impressive loan spells at Derby County in the last two campaigns have seen the Valencia-born midfielder prove himself to be a standout performer in the Championship.
Now, considering Sage has a fairly thin midfield department consisting of only Adam Wharton, Daichi Kamada, Will Hughes, Jefferson Lerma and Justin Devenny, Ozoh definitely has the talent to step up and show he can make it at Selhurst Park with some strong showings in pre-season.
1. Joel Drakes-Thomas
The 17-year-old is currently the jewel of Crystal Palace’s academy.
Drakes-Thomas made European history last term when starting against KuPS at the age of just 16 years and 192 days old, becoming the youngest Englishman ever to start a UEFA Conference League game.
The tricky winger then made two Premier League appearances in defeats away to Newcastle and Leeds, before recently signing his first professional contract with Crystal Palace – a development which pleased senior players including Dean Henderson and Eddie Nketiah.
As aforesaid, with a potential of 67 games to come in all competitions this season, Drakes-Thomas should expect to feature regularly if he can prove his talent to Sage in these pre-season friendlies.
