Troy Deeney says £15.2m Crystal Palace player has really stepped up recently

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Crystal Palace have been picking up solid form in recent weeks, but one player in particular has caught Troy Deeney’s eye.

Saturday saw the Eagles extend the recent brilliant form with a 2-2 draw against Manchester City, as Will Hughes was the true superstar.

This point, means Crystal Palace have now gone with just one loss in eight games, yet somehow still sit 17th in the table.

Position	Team	Played MP	Won W	Drawn D	Lost L	For GF	Against GA	Diff GD	Points Pts
17	Crystal PalaceCrystal Palace	15	2	7	6	14	20	-6	13

Crystal Palace’s performance was praised by Pep Guardiola, and he will ultimately consider himself fortunate to have picked up a point at Selhurst Park.

In an impressive outing by the Eagles, there were several outstanding performers such as Hughes, and Troy Deeney has also named one star in his team of the week.

• READ MORE: Meet Oliver Glasner, the Europa League expert turned Crystal Palace manager

Maxence Lacroix praised by Troy Deeney

The goals against City came via two defenders as Daniel Munoz and Maxence Lacroix both converted Hughes’ assists in the game.

After impressing against Guardiola’s side, both defensively and offensively, Lacroix has been named in Troy Deeney’s team of the week.

Writing in his weekly column on BBC Sport, Deeney explained why the £15.2m defender was included.

“He has shown the potential to be a really good player and over the past three or four weeks he has really started to impose himself and look like he is getting a good understanding of the Premier League and his own position.

“Scored a fine set-piece header against Manchester City.”

READ MORE: Who is Maxence Lacroix? Get to know the pacey Crystal Palace defender with a TikTok lookalike

Lacroix is shining for Crystal Palace this season

Signed as the replacement for Joachim Andersen on transfer deadline day and his £15.2m transfer fee now looks like a real bargain.

This was the fourth successive top performance from Lacroix throughout the unbeaten streak as he looks like an upgrade on Andersen.

Lacroix stats 24/25 per 90

• 79.6 per cent pass accuracy
• 3.92 accurate long passes
• 0.25 chances created
• 0.58 dribbles
• 1.33 tackles won
• 5 duels won
• 1.92 interceptions
• 4.67 recoveries

Lacroix ranks highly among his peers and also looks better and better every single week in a Palace shirt.

Glasner was so eager to sign Lacroix and now we understand why.