Will Hughes makes honest Patrick Vieira admission and sends message to former club Derby

Will Hughes says he is loving his time at Crystal Palace so far and that he's benefitting greatly from the tutelage of midfield legend Patrick Vieira.

The 26-year-old arrived at Selhurst Park over the summer and had to wait patiently before making his mark on the team, forcing his way into the starting XI at the end of 2021 and staying put since.

Hughes said that Vieira, who was recently nominated for Manager of the Year at the London Football Awards, had helped him understand his position in midfield better and that it had been a 'pleasure' taking advice from one of the game's all-time greats.

The Englishman also picked up on Vieira's open-door policy that allowed players to ask for advice or speak to him whenever they wanted - a trick that Leeds United star Jack Harrison commented on when he worked under Vieira at New York City.

Asked how much he had learned from the World Cup winner since joining the club in August, Hughes said: “A lot, even more so in that midfield position. Look at the career he’s had - he has won almost anything.

"Any little snippets I can get from him, he is more than happy to let the players in his office to ask him anything that you need. That has been a big help.

"He’s cool and calculated, but if he needs to tell you to do something, he won’t hesitate to do it.

"He has got that aura about him - he has got that respect that just comes naturally. It has been a pleasure working under him.”

Hughes has been asked to play in a more defensive role in Vieira's 4-3-3 system of late but has taken to the challenge well, keeping things ticking over in midfield while players like Conor Gallagher can push forward ahead of him.

That's not always the role Hughes has played at previous clubs. At both