I’D LIKE MORE PALACE JEWELS
ENGLAND boss Gareth Southgate called up four Crystal Palace players – and admitted he wanted to make it five.
Eagles midfielder Adam Wharton (below) was a surprise first call-up for the 33-man training squad alongside team-mates Marc Guehi, Eberechi Eze and keeper Dean Henderson.
That is a huge tribute to the difference new Palace boss Oliver Glasner has made as they have finished the season in great form.
But Southgate, a huge Palace favourite himself from his time as a player, also said he had been interested in Michael Olise, who was born in London but has played for France Under-21s.
Olise, 22, could still switch allegiances after failing to make the France squad for the Euros but there was not enough time before this summer.
Southgate said: “He would have to have a transfer of association.
“That process would take quite a while. He is a very good player, he hasn’t made their squad, they might be taking him to the Olympics, I don’t know.
“He is a player we should have an interest in because he is very good but there is no way you could do all of that in time for the Euros.
“It has been an incredible rise for Adam Wharton. If you look at him and Kobbie Mainoo five or six months ago, I don’t think any of us would think we would be talking in this way.
“But this is a little bit of a reflection of the strength of depth in that area of the pitch but also that the two boys have played well.
“Good technician, Adam can handle the ball really well, he has got a calmness about him that I really like.
“I think the system he plays in and the role he plays, Palace have found a system that really suits him with a back three behind.
“There are bits we need to find out about that. It also suits Eze and Olise because they are not having to defend so far back. He is in a good moment, he is confident and we are keen to find out more about him.”