Crystal Palace boss Patrick Vieira reveals what Arsenal loanee Sambi Lokonga has been doing behind the scenes

Crystal Palace boss Patrick Vieira says on-loan midfielder Albert Sambi Lokonga is already loving life in south London and getting used to his new teammates.

The young Belgian midfielder made his Palace debut as a substitute against Manchester United and showed signs of why he was first signed by Premier League leaders Arsenal.

The move to Crystal Palace has the potential to lift the player’s confidence while also providing the deep competition the team needs to continue competing in the Premier League.

Lokonga looked lost in his final days at Arsenal as he just didn’t look like he was enjoying his game with his performance constantly compared to that of Ghanaian Thomas Partey.

Vieira says Lokonga and fellow new signing Naouirou Ahamada who also made his debut against United last week are all looking the part already.

He told reporters ahead of the game against Brighton and Hove Albion: “When you on loan it’s about finding the right club.

“The right manager and the right support that you can have to get some game time and keep improving as a player.

“Of course but what makes it really different for Sambi is that he’s just coming just now in the middle of the season we had Conor and it was different situation.

“We can give game time to these young players but at the same time they need to show that they deserve it and Sambi is good talented reallygood exciting player.

“He will work well with us and he will help this football club, the body language and the behaviour of the player is what we look at before we sign a player, that is massive for us and there is no doubt about his attitude.”

The Eagles face a Brighton side who are on form and looking to challenge for European football next season this weekend at Selhurst.

Their new manager Roberto De Zerbi has continued from where Graham Potter left off and in some ways made them even a much more attacking side with Japanese sensation Kaoru Mitoma the latest jewel at the Amex.