Ex Crystal Palace striker gives Patrick Vieira solution to Edouard, Mateta, Benteke problem

Former Crystal Palace striker Clinton Morrison has backed Odsonne Edouard to prevail as the Eagles ’ first-choice number nine ahead of Christian Benteke and Jean-Philippe Mateta.

Palace boss Patrick Vieria hasn’t settled on a preferred centre-forward all season with each of his recognised strikers failing to grab hold of the shirt and nail down their spot.

Edouard currently leads the trio with a goal return of six Premier League strikes in 22 appearances (1,250 minutes) while Benteke (also 22 appearances, 1,109 minutes) has four league goals to his name this season.

Mateta meanwhile is Vieira’s current preferred choice, having signed a new long-term contract with the club in January. His form is yet to be tested over a long period but so far he is scoring at a marginally higher rate than either of his teammates.

The 24-year-old has three top-flight goals to his name in 587 minutes of action, making his average goals scored per 90 minutes 0.46 compared to Edouard’s 0.43 and Benteke’s 0.32

His most recent goal came in the 2-0 away win over Wolves last Saturday, though he is still some way off top scorer Wilfried Zaha’s tally of nine for the season.

“I have to hold my hands up and I don't mind admitting this - I didn't think he was good enough, but he's proved me wrong,” said Morrison of Mateta, speaking courtesy of FreeSuperTips.

“Whatever Patrick Viera is doing for him is working because he's a real handful and causing a lot of problems for the opposition at the minute.

“He and Benteke are similar, they both like crosses into the box where they can cause problems.”

Morrison played 316 games for Palace across two spells in the late 1990s and 2000s and is the club’s joint-fifth all-time top goalscorer with 113