SILVA HAS BREATHED NEW LIFE INTO THEO

ROY HODGSON has challenged Wilfried Zaha to show why he deserves to be targeted by the Premier League’s elite.

Zaha faces Arsenal tomorrow after missing out on a switch to the Emirates.

Crystal Palace boss Hodgson praised Zaha for the way he regained his focus after being told he was staying put. But he concedes the Ivorian (with Hodgson, above) may yet make a big-money move away.

Hodgson said: “As far as Wilf is concerned, he needs to make certain he gives his very best and shows off his talents, every time we play.

“There are lots of teams out there looking for good players and, if he wants to attract one, he needs to perform at the very highest level.

“I don’t think the fact it is Arsenal will change his performance enormously, I hope not, because I expect his performance to be very good against all the teams we play.”

Zaha has just one assist to his name this term and Hodgson believes Palace can no longer be accused of being overly reliant on the wideman.

He added: “It’s a bit unfair that the team has been accused of being dependent on one man and it’s only thanks to Wilf Zaha that we’re having some success. I find that harsh.

“But, if that is evening out a bit more, it would be good for everybody.

“I can’t be anything other than complimentary about Wilf. When he didn’t leave in the summer, that was a good thing for us.

“But the day might come when the club can no longer hold on to him – and that won’t be my decision, it will be a decision taken by the owners.

“And then we would have to make certain we can live without him. So, if we are making strides without him, that would be a good thing.

“But I’m still hoping he can be in top form and causing the Arsenal defence lots and lots of problems.”

Amex Stadium: 3pm

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MARCO SILVA has told Everton’s Theo Walcott not to put so much pressure on himself and instead “stop a little bit to breathe.”

Walcott came in from the wilderness to inspire the win over West Ham last weekend that lifted Blues out of the bottom three and eased the heat on their manager.

Silva says he has always believed in the England international – despite condemning him to a long spell on the sidelines – but wants the forward to believe in himself more.

“What he needs to be more consistent is belief,” said Silva (above) about the former Arsenal winger. “He has to believe in himself. Before his teammates, before my staff, before me, Theo has to believe in himself.

“He has the one thing in football that you cannot find so easy - that pace. When Theo is on a good day, it is really difficult to stop him.

“But at some moments he has to stop a little bit to breathe and make the right decisions.”

There has been heavy expectation on Walcott

DAVY PROPPER insists Brighton do not have a disciplinary problem.

The Seagulls have picked up eight red cards during their time in the Premier League – and have had two men sent off already this season.

Aaron Mooy was the latest player to receive his marching orders after two first-half bookings at Aston Villa last Saturday. That followed Florin Andone’s dismissal against Southampton in August.

But Propper (above) since he burst onto the scene as a big-money teenage signing at Arsenal and earned a shock call-up to England’s World Cup squad in 2006 as a 17-year-old.

Silva suggested Walcott (top) perhaps tries too hard to deliver on the expectation, which can take the joy from his football.

“He is a player with quality and a fantastic boy,” said Everton’s Portuguese boss.“Sometimes he puts pressure on himself to be the decisive player. So it is up to us to keep giving the right feedback to him and for him to perform at his level. “Our players have to know his strengths. We have to take the best from him. Playing in a certain way, we can get very good things from Theo Walcott.

“He hasn’t lost confidence. At the beginning of the season he wasn’t playing, sometimes not even in the squad, and he was not happy with the situation.

“But still he was a big example to everyone. Fighting, wanting the best for the team, not for himself. He gave a fantastic response and is a very good professional.” said: “Do I think we have a disciplinary problem? No, not really. “Every red card is different. Some are two yellows like last weeked and sometimes it’s not even the right decision to get a red card.

“So, I don’t think there is a problem. It’s not like we are really aggressive or anything.

“Of course, it’s not the way we want to start a game if you end up having only 10 men after 30 minutes.

“But it can happen to anyone.”