CRYSTAL Palace manager Dougie Freedman has put Wilfried Zaha’s superb start to the season down to the hard work and dedication he has shown on the training ground.

The dazzling winger scored his second brace in as many games as Crystal Palace came from behind to beat Burnley 4-3 at Selhurst Park, with Zaha again drawing the plaudits and cementing his status as one of the most coveted players in the country.

Freedman said: “He isn’t letting it go to his head.

“He comes into training every day and works hard and his movement and technique is getting better and better and you are seeing the results of that right now.

“Being a goal scorer myself, I feel as though getting into goal scoring positions is half the battle and he is starting to get into those positions.

“He has always had great technique and he has always been a good finisher, but now he is getting in goal scoring positions and getting strikes on goal.

“Wilfried’s movement is a little bit more in behind this season because he is understanding the game better and he now knows he can beat his man with skill and by running in behind.

“I feel that is down to his hard work down at the training ground.”

New arrival Damien Delaney has certainly been impressed with the youngster, who he believes has a very big future in the game.

Delaney said: “He’s a good lad, he has a good head on his shoulders and what I like best about him is that he works hard for the team.

“There was a couple of times in the first half when we were under pressure and there’s Wilfried Zaha helping out his right back.

“It is a rare trait.

“Sometimes players of that talent would just sit on the half way line and wait to be given the ball but credit to him, he has a terrific work-rate and he can go as far as he wants in the game.”

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