Patrick Vieira says that Wilfried Zaha needs to show more consistency in a Crystal Palace shirt and that the winger still has potential to fulfil as a player.
Zaha has five goals in 18 appearances for the Eagles this season and is the only Palace player to have scored 50 Premier League goals for the club, passing that landmark with his opener against Manchester City in November.
Despite that, the Ivorian has only found form in patches this season and was shown a red card in his most recent appearance for Palace at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Boxing Day.
He then left for the Africa Cup of Nations in Cameroon where his Ivory Coast got out of their group before being knocked out by losing finalists Egypt on penalties in the round of 16.
Zaha is expected to make his return for Palace on Wednesday evening against Norwich in the Premier League, though his manager has challenged him ahead of the game to produce more in front of goal.
"With his potential, I think he can do more," Vieira told reporters in his press conference on Tuesday morning.
"I’m really demanding of him because of his ability in possession and out of possession. He is a player that can deliver and he needs to be more consistent.
"I think the experience is telling me that the talent is fantastic to have but what is important is the team. We built a squad where players are taking confidence and belief in their ability. We have a couple of players who can score goals and create chances.
"We are stronger when we have a really good Wilfried Zaha on the field because of his ability to score goals and create danger. But it’s important as well for him to understand that you need the team around you to perform and to allow him to do what he can to deliver."
With Zaha and Jordan Ayew both back from AFCON there is now fierce competition for places on the wings for Vieira.
Michael Olise and Odsonne Edouard have both provided goals and assists from wide starting berths over the last six weeks and have highlighted Palace's squad depth in forward positions during that time.
The Eagles also have Eberechi Eze who can play out wide as well as Under-23s star Jesurun Rak-Sakyi, who Vieira said on Friday would be featuring in the first team more during the second half of the season.
Olise in particular has stood out as one of Palace's best players of late, winning the club's player of the month award for January before starting February with a goal and an assist against Hartlepool in the FA Cup.
Asked whether the 20-year-old was ready to make the step up and start more regularly in the Premier League, Vieira said: "He is ready to perform at that level, and has shown that lately. It’s important to see how consistent he can be.
"This is his first season in the Premier League. It’s difficult for me to bench Christian (Benteke) or (Eberechi) Eze who is coming back and getting better and better.
"Macca [James McArthur] in midfield is coming back as well and has looked really good in training.
"This is a position I want to be in. For it to be difficult to choose the starting XI. I’m happy with the squad and talent, now it's up to me to make the right decision to allow them to express themselves."
