CONOR’S GOT IT OFF PAT
Vieira an inspiration to loan star
CONOR GALLAGHER has been boosted after studying videos of his new Crystal Palace boss Patrick Vieira.
Fresh from scoring twice for the Eagles against West Ham on Saturday, the rookie midfielder is set to lead the charge for the new-look England Under-21s this week.
Gallagher, on a season’s loan from Chelsea, was too young to watch Vieira play at his peak when winning Premier League titles for Arsenal and the World Cup with France.
But Gallagher was blown away during his research as he pondered his summer switch to Palace after Vieira was appointed.
Now he’s added the former midfielder to his list of players to model himself on, which was topped by his Chelsea hero Frank Lampard.
Gallagher, 21, said: “I watched videos of Vieira running past people and bullying people. I’ve obviously seen the one of him and Roy Keane in the tunnel.
“I was a couple of years too young to watch him but from videos I’ve seen, he was box to box, just how I like to play, so there is a lot to learn from him this season.
“I am excited with what Patrick wants to do, him as coach and the club, and I loved the sound of how he wanted me to play and go about the work.”
He added: “Frank Lampard is always someone I looked up to at Chelsea with his
goals and assists – crazy numbers. I want to be a goalscoring midfielder. There is work to be done but scoring a couple against West Ham was a confidence booster.
“I’m really happy and want to continue my form for England.”
Gallagher has swapped Sam Allardyce as his boss last season at West Brom for Vieira and said: “It is different but that is how it will be, different managers and different styles of play.
“I was happy with the experience I gained under Sam but I like the football Patrick wants to play. It suits me and it makes Palace a good move for me.”
Gallagher linked up with Lee Carsley’s
squad yesterday – who face Romania in a friendly on Friday before their Euro 2023 campaign kicks off next week – looking to emulate his club form.
He also wants to impress Carsley’s No2, Chelsea legend Ashley Cole, who coaches Under-15s and 16s at Chelsea’s academy, hoping it will help win him a route back to Stamford Bridge.
Gallagher has steadily elevated his career with loans at Charlton, Swansea and West Brom.
And after “giving it all” for Palace this season, he still hopes to make a Chelsea breakthrough, despite the extremely fierce competition.