Dan Cook has been speaking on the HLTCO podcast about how he doubts Patrick Vieira will choose Will Hughes to replace James McArthur at Crystal Palace.
Their previously ever-present McArthur, who has picked up a hamstring injury – and the Eagles did not get off to the best start without him having been defeated for only the third time all season when Wolves handed them a 1-0 loss at Molineux.
Will Palace finish in the top half?
Yes!
No!
Palace fans will be hoping that Vieira and his coaching staff have a solid contingency plan in place for when an injury like that occurs to someone who is crucial to the way the team play – and it’s not like the Frenchman has a lack of options at the centre-midfield position.
Someone who could step up – not to just replace McArthur, but to make his first mark at the club – is summer signing Hughes, who’s yet to get off the bench. The Athletic’s Matt Woosnam believes the midfielder could be the natural heir to the Scotsman’s throne in the team.
However, Cook is not sure about that claim given Hughes’ lack of playing time under Vieira.
“A report which suggests that his deal was a three-year one on £36,000 a week, also suggests, via Matt Woosnam, that Will Hughes is seen as the long-term successor for James McArthur, which seems a little bit odd given the fact that he hasn’t been given a single minute of football.
“I mused aloud yesterday as to whether or not he would be thrown into the starting XI for the visit from Aston Villa and Steven Gerrard this weekend, and maybe he will, but I struggle to see it given the fact that he hasn’t been trusted at all yet by Patrick Vieira.”
TIF Thoughts on Hughes…
It does now appear to be a bizarre decision for Hughes to leave Watford over the summer, as he featured heavily during their promotion campaign last season, while now, he’s lucky to be a squad player given that he’s only one of nine players yet to be handed a single minute by Vieira in the Premier League.
If Hughes is to eventually take over from McArthur, he may have to increase his efforts in training and prove to Vieira he’s good enough to handle his demands as well as the demands of the Premier League.
In other news: ‘I’m sure he’s looking to have a conversation’ – Dan Cook on ‘frustration’ CPFC man is facing