Patrick Vieira sends game time message to striker Odsonne Edouard and demands improvement

Crystal Palace manager Patrick Vieira says striker Odsonne Edouard has dipped in form and needs to work his way back if he wants to get consistent game time.

The young french striker had a dream start to life in the Premier League, bagging a brace on his debut to help Palace to a merobale 3-0 win over Tottenham Hotspurs.

His touch and skill looked like what Palace had always lacked up top and his first few weeks at the club looked like a match made in heaven.

But his stock has fallen lately and he’s been moved around the front three with manager Patrick Vieira trying to work out where best to get him functioning completely.

Despite his recent limited game, Odsonne Edouard  has six goals and three assists suggesting that he could rediscover his confidence and contribute more to the team going forward.

Asked what he could do to improve his game ahead of the trip to Southampton manager Patrick Vieira said he wanted to see more hard work and patience from the former Celtic striker.

Former Arsenal captain Patrick Vieira said: “I think he had a really good start when he arrived and he played some really good football.

“He has had a bit of a dip, and we have other players around him who are doing really well. Now it is important for him to keep fighting in these couple of games left.

“He will play those couple of games, and it’s important for him to keep fighting for his spot. At the moment, he is behind Jean-Philippe, who is doing really well for the team.”

The Red and Blue army are without a win in their last four games but did look like themselves against Leed United and were unlucky not take all three points on the day.

Their confidence and rhythm had been deflated by the defeat to Chelsea at the semi-final stage of the FA Cup and defeats to Leicester and Newcastle before and after that have not helped confidence and mood around the club.

But they travel to St Mary’s to take on Southampton this weekend buoyed by their performance on Monday night against Leeds and will look to return to South London with all three points.