Roy Hodgson must place his faith in Palace’s revelation to progress in 2019/20 – opinion
LONDON, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 05: Jordan Ayew of Crystal Palace celebrates after scoring his sides second goal which is awarded following a VAR review during the Premier League match between West Ham United and Crystal Palace at London Stadium on October 05, 2019 in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by Catherine Ivill/Getty Images)
Jordan Ayew is in the form of his career at the moment, and he was the difference as Crystal Palace came from behind to beat West Ham United on Boxing Day. The diminutive Ghanaian cushioned a header to assist Cheikhou Kouyate for the Eagles equaliser having gone a goal down.
He then briefly turned into Zinedine Zidane in the 90th minute to pirouette between two Hammers defenders, touch the ball around another pair with some quick feet and provided a sumptuous dinked chip over the goalkeeper after he had sat him down on the floor. It was the sort of goal that would not have appeared out of place on a Lionel Messi highlights reel, and it is telling Ayew’s confidence at the moment.
So far this season the striker is Crystal Palace’s top scorer, and he is entirely reborn relative to the man who was twice relegated from the Premier League with both Swansea and Aston Villa. He could be set to break his highest ever tally in the English top-flight. He has previously registered seven goals in two separate campaigns but has never hit double figures in the Premier League, but after scoring against West Ham, he is on track to change that.
Ayew could even break his career-best league goals tally in a season set back in 2015 when he was with French side Lorient. During the 2014/14 campaign, he registered 12 Ligue 1 goals, and it is the only time in his career the player scored double figures in the league. He recorded a career-high five assists that season too, but his one against West Ham was his first of the season this term.
Roy Hodgson’s side threw away a one-goal lead against the Saints, who are in emphatic form, and Ayew was unable to replicate his goalscoring heroics against Ralph Hassenhuttl’s side. Currently, the Eagles are above the trouble, and if Ayew can continue to fire in the goals it will stay that way. He’s scored almost 30 per cent of the south London side’s goals this season, and if they are to stay in the Premier League, he will play a vital role for Hodgson’s men.