Patrick
Vieira knew Conor Gallagher was good. But not this good.
The 22-year-old's potential was clear when he arrived at Selhurst Park from
Chelsea in July but even so, his season in south London - a season during
which he has become a Crystal Palace talisman and senior England
international - has exceeded expectations.
"He surprised me with his finishing, he surprised me with his energy, he
surprised me with the way he gets into the box at the right time to score
goals," Vieira says in conversation with Sky Sports.
Gallagher has scored eight of them so far - as many as he managed in his
previous three loan spells combined - and registered more direct goal
involvements (11) than any other Palace player.
He has been their standout performer in the Premier League, putting them
within reach of their highest-ever finish, and while he is ineligible to
face parent club Chelsea in the upcoming FA Cup semi-final, he has been key
to their progress on that front too.
Take his performance in last month's quarter-final.
Gallagher overpowered Everton in midfield that day and while he was not
among Palace's scorers, his influence was apparent in two of their four
goals. After releasing Michael Olise before the opener, he took the initial
shot that allowed Will Hughes to add the fourth.
It was typical of Gallagher that, even with 87 minutes gone and Palace three
goals up, he still had the energy and desire to sprint from inside his own
half to meet Odsonne Edouard's pass on the edge of Everton's box and force
the save that fell to Hughes.
Palace supporters adore Gallagher for his indefatigable work-rate as much as
his quality, and Vieira, a perfect mentor for the youngster given his own
pedigree in the position, feels the same way.
"He is a team player and this is what I really love about him," adds the
Frenchman. "He sacrifices himself on the field for the team. I'm glad he
gets praise because of the goals that he is scoring but everything he does
is good for the team."
His performance in Crystal Palace's goalless draw with Manchester City, six
days before that 4-0 win over Everton, provided even clearer evidence of
Gallagher's appetite for sacrifice.
Vieira's side registered just 26 per cent of the possession that night, with
Gallagher recording fewer touches (39) than in any other Premier League
fixture this season, and yet he hustled and harried relentlessly, running
over a kilometre further than any of his team-mates and making a huge
contribution towards the result.
"I can't feel my legs," he told Sky Sports with a grin afterwards.
Gallagher covered 12.3km against City, the most by any Palace player all
season, but such industrious performances are not unusual for him. In fact,
he has surpassed the 12km mark on four separate occasions over the course of
the campaign.
"The boss wants me to press," Gallagher added.
Indeed, in addition to everything he gives Palace in an attacking sense,
Gallagher has also won possession more times than any of his team-mates in
the middle third, while only Wilfried Zaha has won it more times in the
final third.
Gallagher showed the same hunger out of possession on his first England
start against Switzerland last Saturday, his all-round performance earning
him the man-of-the-match award. "He's infectious, isn't he?" said Gareth
Southgate afterwards. "I think he can set the tone for the rest of the
team."
If there can be any criticism of Gallagher, it is that he sometimes tries to
do too much, something which leaves Vieira clicking his fingers in search of
the English word for canaliser - to channel.
"I think one of the areas where he can improve is in channelling his
energy," says Vieira, who has previously likened Gallagher to his former
Arsenal team-mate Ray Parlour but with the goal scoring ability of Chelsea
legend Frank Lampard.
"He has got so much strength, so much power, so much mobility, but it's
about finding the right time to use his energy," he adds.
"Sometimes, I would say, he is making runs he shouldn't make, when he should
keep his energy for the right moments."
That, though, presents a dilemma in itself and Vieira has been mindful not
to stop Gallagher from playing his natural game.
"At the same time, you don't want to take those qualities away from him
because of the options he gives you as a manager," says Vieira.
"He is unbelievable, and he is like that in life as well. He gives
everything in every relationship with his team-mates and he plays in the
same way as he is in his life."
Vieira believes Gallagher will learn to refine his game over time - "he will
get that with experience," he adds - and while it is not yet clear what his
future holds for him beyond this season, what is clear is that his loans up
until now - with Charlton, Swansea and West Brom before Palace - have been
hugely beneficial to his development.
"For a young player at this age, with that talent, I strongly believe the
loans he had helped him develop himself quicker," says Vieira.
"I strongly believe that if he hadn't had those loans, he wouldn't be the
player he is now.
"For young players like him, to go to the next level, you need to play
games. Everywhere he went, he did that."
He has done it at Palace too. Gallagher's performances have caused some
Chelsea supporters to question the decision to send him on loan but only
Tyrick Mitchell and Marc Guehi have played more Premier League minutes for
Palace this season and his England breakthrough is a testament to the
progress he has made.
His rise holds lessons for young players in the importance of experience and
exposure. Crystal Palace may not be able to enjoy him for much longer as he
nears the end of his loan spell. But Gallagher's sheer relentlessness has
already earned a place in the hearts of their supporters - and their
manager.
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