Freedman keen to continue Zaha's development with Eagles (From News Shopper)

Wolves 1-2 Crystal Palace

12:40am Wednesday 3rd October 2012 in Sport By Sunni Upal

CRYSTAL Palace manager Dougie Freedman says he will only sell Wilfried Zaha when the time is right after the 19-year-old’s sizzling display at Molineux.

Zaha scored both goals for Palace as they came from behind to beat Wolves 2-1, but Freedman still thinks his hottest prospect has some developing to do at Selhurst Park before a move to a bigger club.

The Eagles chief said: “The kid has huge potential and hopefully he can fulfil that.

“He is working hard off the ball and developing his game that way and Wilfried can play at the top level if he continues with that improvement.

“He has got wonderful technique and wonderful ability and his all-round game is coming together.

“I’ve known that kid since he was 14 years of age so it’s a relationship that goes a bit further than contracts.

“When I think he is ready to let him go to the right club, I will tap Wilfried on the shoulder and tell him I can’t develop him any longer.

“I was coaching the reserves when he was 14 years of age and I was working with him.

“Five or six year later we have got a good relationship so when I think the time is right and I can’t get any more out of him development wise, I will let the top clubs know that I think they should take him on.”

The brace at Molineux were Zaha’s first goals of the season but his manager believes he will get into double figures this year.

Freedman was delighted at the response of his Palace side after falling behind to Sylvan Ebanks-Blake’s goal early in the second half after Damien Delaney gave the ball away.

“We haven’t got a blame culture at Crystal Palace, we win together and we lose together,” the boss said.

“It is unfortunate how the goal was conceded but Damien has been immense for us.

“I thought we deserved the win.

“We threatened in the first half on the counter attack.

“They’re a good strong team and we coped with them and on the counter attack we always looked as if we could get a goal.

“I thought our response was good. I thought the first goal would win it but unfortunately we lost that goal but our response was great and that was pleasing from the youngsters.

“Jonathan Williams was kicked all night tonight but I thought he responded in the right way.

“That’s what pleases me - to see this team respond in the right way whatever challenge they get.”

The win extended Palace’s unbeaten run to six games after three losses to start the season.

But boss Freedman believes he learned a lot of lessons from the Eagles’ tough start to the campaign.

He said: “The first three results of the season didn’t go for us and I’m not going to make excuses but it made me a better manager because I know who’s with me and who is not with me.

“It taught me a lot of things about the players and who was up for the fight on the training ground.”

Follow us on Twitter @NewsShopperSprt