Ian Wright says it’s unfair Conor Gallagher will not be allowed to play for Crystal Palace in their FA Cup semi-final against Chelsea and admitted he’d have been ‘devastated’ if it had ever happened to him during his playing days.
The former Palace and Arsenal striker was speaking on his podcast Wrighty’s House where he was discussing the Eagles’ impressive journey to the FA Cup last four where they’ll face Gallagher’s parent club at Wembley next month. But due to FA laws the 22-year-old midfielder, who was recently named in Gareth Southgate’s England squad for upcoming friendlies vs Switzerland and Ivory Coast, will not be allowed to play any part in the game.
It’s only the second time that Palace have reached the semi-finals of the FA Cup in the last 25 years but they will have to do so without top-scoring midfielder Gallagher who has two assists from four FA Cup appearances this season.
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“If you’ve let a player go from the start of the season then yes he’s your player,” said the former striker turned pundit. “For Conor Gallagher to go to Palace and take them to the levels. He’s one of the main reasons they’re doing what they’re doing. He’s helped get them to a semi-final at Wembley which is what we all dream of as professionals and he can’t play because his parent club is there. There’s something not fair about that. I’d be devastated if I was in his position.”
Gallagher has eight goals and five assists in his 30 appearances for the Eagles this season and has drawn regular plaudits for his high-energy style and the box to box nature of his game. That was recognised by England when he made his senior Three Lions in November against San Marino while both Palace manager Patrick Vieira and Chelsea manager Thomas Tuchel have praised Gallagher for how well he has performed this season in south London.
His impact has been such that there are concerns from some Palace fans about how they will replace Gallagher when his loan deal ends at the end of the season. So far he has been the most consistent figure in Palace’s midfield, with James McArthur, Eberechi Eze, Cheikhou Kouyate, Will Hughes and Jeffrey Schlupp all drifting in and out of the team around him due to injury and form.
"One of the key things, and it’s very obvious, is they have to do something about either signing Conor Gallagher or finding someone who does what he does,” added Wright. “I’ve never seen anyone work that hard, closing down, running back, linking up with defence, midfield and going forward. He gives you so much that if you take him out they lose a lot.”
Palace boss Vieira has been coy on what his club’s chances are of turning Gallagher’s loan into a permanent deal could be but has continued to stress that game time is the most important thing for his development. That is something he is assured of in south London, and with a World Cup coming at the end of the year it could be pivotal in where Gallagher plays next season.
“We don’t speak about it,” said Vieira when asked about Gallagher’s future. “We know we’ll have him for the year but after that, we never know. I believe when you look at the way he’s playing he is really happy here. He knows how important he is for the club and he’s enjoying his game. For a player like that, what is important is to keep playing week after week. We give him the support he needs to be on the field to show his talent.”
Following the international break, Crystal Palace and Gallagher will face off against Arsenal at Selhurst Park before two tricky away trips to Leicester City and a resurgent Newcastle United. They’ll then head to Wembley to face Chelsea in the FA Cup, where Gallagher will have to watch on from the stands.
