EAGLES boss Dougie Freedman is in no rush to cash in on prize asset Wilfried Zaha after another impressive display against Coventry City last night.

The 18-year-old Zaha came off the bench to replace Kagisho Dikgacoi seven minutes before the break and again emerged as a key figure in Palace’s eventual success over the Sky Blues.

Freedman was full of praise for the youngster afterwards and added it was in the player’s best interests to stick around for a while longer, despite inevitable interest from bigger clubs in the future.

The manager said: “Everybody knows what Wilfried has got.

“It's not for me to say come and get him, people will come and get him.

“My only job is to persuade them as much as possible to stay and then try and enjoy them for three or four years, then when they are ready and they are grown up in life, to pass them off.

“When I think they are ready to represent another club at a higher level I will pass them on but my plan is to hold onto them a little bit longer to enjoy them, then let them go.

“I feel if I can use Wilfried at the right times he is a huge asset for us.

“They tried to put two on him and he switched wings.

“It was good for him, all the hard work he does pays off on a Saturday or Tuesday.”

Freedman added: “There was a lot of pressure on Wilfred to perform last season.

“There was too much emphasis on him and it was too difficult for a young kid of 17-years of age to turn up each week and do what he's got to do. He’s not coached enough.

“Last year we needed to play him from the start but this year my plan is for the Williams, the Scannells, the Zahas, the Clynes - I can keep on going and drip feed them in and out.”

Another young substitute who caught the eye after coming on for Ryan McGivern midway through the second half was Jonathan Williams.

Freedman said: “Jonathan Williams is a good little player.

“He’s a bright spark, but he's got a long way to go.

“You've got to be very careful with Jon - he is a fantastic young player but I have to be careful with him.

“I’m very fair on the kids.

“My only job is to persuade them as much as possible to stay and try and enjoy them for three or four years and then when they are ready and grown up in life, to pass them off.

“That’s the club where we are at.

“II won't try and hide it and pretend we are going to get to the Champions League in five years time, I know where we are.

“But I would like to think we could hold on to them for a little bit longer.”

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