Shaun Wright-Phillips slams Chelsea's Conor Gallagher decision ahead of FA Cup semi-final

Former Chelsea winger Shaun Wright-Phillips has blasted his old club for not allowing Conor Gallagher to play against them in Sunday’s FA Cup semi-final.

Gallagher has spent the season on loan at Crystal Palace from Chelsea and has emerged as one of the Premier League’s best young midfielders, with eight goals and five assists in all competitions for the Eagles.

His efforts have seen him capped by England for the first time and have helped Palace reach the semi-finals of the FA Cup for only the third time in the last 27 years.

However, he will play no part in the game at Wembley after Chelsea turned down Palace’s special request to allow the 22-year-old to play against his parent club, a decision that, while understandable, has received much criticism, not least from Palace’s manager Patrick Vieira.

Speaking to Metro Sport, via Lord Ping, Wright-Phillips also slammed the call, saying: ‘I don’t agree with the fact that loan players can’t play against their parent team. I’ve never agreed with it.

‘For me, if you think he’s that good then play him in your team, give him his shot to show what he’s capable of. You obviously didn’t want to give him his shot, you put him out on loan and now you turn around and you’re nervous for him to play against you. Make your mind up which one is it.

‘If he’s good enough to play in your team than keep him at your club and play him. They’ve let him go and now he’s missing out on a big occasion just because Chelsea don’t want to play him. I think that’s really unfair on him.’

Much has been made of what Gallagher will do once his loan ends in the summer with Thomas Tuchel previously saying that the midfielder is in his plans for next season, but with Chelsea already stacked with quality