TIM’S FUTURE LOOKS CRYSTAL CLEAR
Playing regularly for Palace could be the making of Fosu-mensah at Old Trafford
TIMOTHY FOSU-MENSAH was signed by Frank De Boer and has developed under Roy Hodgson at Selhurst Park.
But the Dutchman’s future will be decided by Jose Mourinho – and the Manchester United boss likes what he is seeing from the defender who is getting better with every game. Just like Crystal Palace.
Fosu-mensah (below, tangling with Ashley Barnes), who is on a season-long loan, said: “I’ve spoken to Jose this season.
“He’s positive, it’s good to have contact with him and he said I have to keep going so that’s what I’m trying to do.
“I want to go back to Old Trafford and push for a place next season. But my focus now is on Crystal Palace.
“It’s good for a manager to have a player who can play more positions. I can play centre-back, I can play right-back, I can play defensive midfield.
“Everything is good. I just came here to play. Playing regularly makes me stronger.
“You have to play to develop so I’m happy that I’m playing.”
His Palace start was not so good. The 20-year-old joined his former Ajax coach De Boer, who was then sacked after the September defeat at Burnley.
That was the last time American co-owners Josh Harris and David Blitzer saw the team play before this convincing win which sees a team still bottom after 14 games now only out of the top-10 by a point.
Man of the match and top scorer Bakary Sako, who is out of contract in the summer, netted the 21st-minute winner.
“I didn’t expect to lose seven games in a row when I joined but they are both good managers,” Fosu-mensah said. “The change under Roy Hodgson? It is concentration, aggression, energy, shape. He is doing a great job but every week we have to perform.”
Burnley remain in seventh place but are treading water after seven games without a win. The only positive was a lively second-half debut from onloan Georgeskevin Nkoudou.
Captain Ben Mee said: “We know where we’re at. We’ve lost some tough fixtures over the Christmas period against three of the top teams, and come here to a team on form, so we’re not getting too downhearted about it.
“We have got another big game next week against another big team, Manchester United. We’ll turn it around.”