Crystal Palace: It’s time to talk about Conor Gallagher

The new-age at Crystal Palace under Patrick Viera is starting to come to life, with the Eagles outplaying reigning Premier League Champions Manchester City, and only losing one league game since August. One player who has been key to this run of form, and is pivotal to Viera’s style, is on-loan Chelsea midfielder, Conor Gallagher.

Gallagher was one of Viera’s top targets in the summer following a season at then relegated West Bromwich Albion, being one of their best players in a poor season. Since joining, the midfielder has been a focal point in the middle, and he has excelled.

Through nine Premier League games, the 21-year-old has two assists and three goals, whilst being a focal point in moving the ball up the pitch.

To show how fundamental Gallagher is to Palace going forward, he makes 1.4 key passes per game and 1.2 long dribbles per game. The midfielder also makes 1.2 crosses per game, having a passing completion percentage of 79.4% at the time of writing.

It’s not only Gallagher’s passing abilities that have propelled Palace to good form, the players dribbling skills have won them several free-kicks, and two very important penalties that kept them in games.

Considered a box-to-box midfielder, everything has gone through him for the Eagles this year, and should his talismanic performances continue, he could be the real surprise package of the season.

His form also creates a conundrum for both Palace and Chelsea, with Viera saying it’s too early to say if they will look to make the deal permanent, but not shying away from the players potential.

The possibility of Gallagher going back to Chelsea and attempting to get in the first-team will always be in the player’s mind.

Should Crystal Palace’s form go on, Gallagher will most definitely be a huge part of it, the player is one to keep an eye on as the season goes on, and his stock continues to rise.