Patrick Vieira says that Eberechi Eze will have to be patient to wait for his chance in the Crystal Palace first team but adds that there is “no doubt” that the midfielder will have a role to play before the season ends.
The 23-year-old Greenwich-born playmaker returned to training in October after suffering an Achilles injury in May before the penultimate game of last season.
Eze was set to be selected for Gareth Southgate’s provisional 33-man squad ahead of Euro 2020 before he picked up the long-term injury in training.
Eze scored four goals and grabbed six assists in his debut Premier League campaign under Roy Hodgson after the Eagles paid QPR a fee in the region of £18million for his services.
Eze has only started one Premier League match this season – the 1-1 draw with Brighton – and been restricted to a handful of substitute appearances.
Eze has started two games in the FA Cup this season for Palace but was not brought on in Tuesday night’s 2-1 fifth round against Championship side Stoke City.
When asked if he would like to see more from Eze in order to reward him with more minutes on the pitch, Vieira said: “It’s just him being out for quite a while.
“Of course, he is excited, anxious, nervous because he wants to play, and he is somebody who loves the game.
“It’s a difficult and challenging moment because he isn’t playing as much as he would like to, but this is part of him developing as a player and going through that difficult period.
“I have to be sure we give him the right support to get back his ability and confidence to start playing games. It’s still a long season, and we still have games, and he will be playing. There’s no doubt about it.
“We have a regular conversation, and he is feeling good to play. There’s a competition, and he will have to be patient.
“When someone in the position in which he can play is having a little bit of trouble, there can be a change.
“He finds it difficult at the moment, but that is normal, and I have to support him. I strongly believe he has the ability to be part of our team and what we are trying to do.”