BY ANDREW MCSTEEN
Crystal Palace manager Patrick Vieira is not taking any credit for Tyrick Mitchell’s England debut.
No less than three current players on the Eagles’ books featured for the national team in the latest round of international matches.
Mitchell made his debut at international level, coming on as a 61st-minute substitute on Saturday against Switzerland and starting against Ivory Coast on Tuesday.
“He played because he deserved to play,” said Vieira to the South London Press. “Last season Tyrick played a couple of games and he played really well, so it was just about putting him there [in the Palace team this season] and for him to play and express himself.”
After Vieira joined the club last July he was told the young left-back could be part of his first team.
And the French manager took that advice, having played him in all 29 matches of their Premier League season so far and looking comfortable and relaxed in his role for both the Eagles and Gareth Southgate’s England side.
“The academy did a fantastic job with him,” added Vieira. “When I arrived, Dougie [Freedman, sporting director] was telling me that he will be ready to play in the Premier League.
“He had shown in those couple of games he played [last season] that he can be in the starting 11. We worked with him and we gave him the confidence that he needed.
“He’s performing really well, [but] all the credit is really to him.”