How has Wilfried Zaha fared on his Crystal Palace return?

Wilfried Zaha will return to Old Trafford for the first time since re-signing for Crystal Palace on Wednesday night.

Since the Reds sold Zaha back to the club from which he was bought in last year’s January transfer window, the winger hasn’t returned to the ground on which he appeared only twice for United.

Zaha has played all but one of Crystal Palace’s Premier League matches this term, providing only two goals and one assist. However, might United have regretted selling Sir Alex Ferguson’s last ever signing since his return to Selhurst Park?

The pacey winger is still only 23 and at such a young age, a case could easily be made to suggest that Zaha should have been allowed further time to develop his skills at Old Trafford.

The Ivory Coast-born attacker hasn’t provided a sensational amount of goals or assists for Palace this term, but the same could be said of many of United’s forward players. Memphis Depay has the same amount of goals but zero assists whilst Ashley Young is yet to contribute in either category.

Granted, neither of Depay or Young have had the same amount of game time as Zaha, but the Englishman has still set up his teammates many times this season. Indeed, the Crystal Palace winger has created 40 chances in the Premier League this season, and only Juan Mata (47) beats that figure from the Reds’ current crop.

And although United will have been pleased to witness the emergence of Jesse Lingard on the right wing this term, the side has still often looked devoid of a truly quick and dynamic player, like Zaha, on that flank this season.

However, Zaha’s time at United was also littered with rumours of an apparent bad attitude, and similar accusations have been thrown at the Englishman ever since.

Former Newcastle United striker Alan Shearer suggested the player lacked a work ethic during his time on loan at Cardiff City, whilst current manager at Crystal Palace, Alan Pardew, has had to warn Zaha about diving.

With those unwanted qualities in mind, it’s perhaps no surprise that Zaha was shifted out by Louis van Gaal last January.

But it’s clear that Zaha has talent, even if it’s not consistently on show. He wouldn’t have been touted for an England call-up by his manager if he didn’t possess the skills he did.

Zaha has a vast amount of Premier League experienced for a 23-year-old and at his age, the Crystal Palace winger still has plenty of time on his side to develop into the player that many hoped he would become, including United.

In terms of regret, arguments can be made for both sides on the Reds’ part. He clearly wasn’t the right kind of player for David Moyes in his only season with the club, but the form he showed at Crystal Palace which convinced United to sign him looked like that of a typical United winger. Perhaps he would have developed into that kind of player at Old Trafford under the right manager.

Zaha certainly has fared well on his return to Selhurst Park, though. Despite his inconsistency, the winger can provide a spark on the wing for the Eagles which undoubtedly makes him a Premier League standard player. Whether his quality can extend beyond that level remains to be seen.

So, whether you believe Zaha is or isn’t good enough to play for United, or whether he should or shouldn’t have stayed with the Reds, it’s hard to argue that he’d have been useful to have in the squad this season. After all, how many people would have picked Lingard over Zaha at the start of the campaign?

We’ll never have a definitive answer as to whether Zaha should or shouldn’t have stayed at United. However, there will probably be a good indication on show in Wednesday’s encounter between the player’s current and former sides, where the Englishman will surely be determined to prove a point to his old employers.