September 9 2014

Yannick Bolasie

Crystal Palace winger Yannick Bolasie reckons Wilfried Zaha's return will give everyone at the club a boost.

Bolasie was delighted his good friend made such an impact on his second debut at Newcastle last week after re-signing on loan from Manchester United.

Zaha came on as a late substitute and scored a vital stoppage time equaliser as the Eagles snatched a 3-3 draw for their first point of the season.

"What an introduction for him," Bolasie told the Advertiser. "I think that's going to do a lot for confidence and now the fans are hopefully going to see the best of him again, so we'll look forward to the next few games.

"We're only going to get stronger. Wilf, I think, started his career as a forward. For me, looking at him playing there, it's just healthy really.

"We know players can play in other positions. Jason Puncheon can also play in the hole behind a striker but there is good competition out on the wings now."

Bolasie, who is on international duty with DR Congo, reckons the break will give new manager Neil Warnock a chance to get to know his players.

"I think, despite the result at Newcastle, the international break might have come at a good time for us," said Bolasie.

"We recuperate and go again. We look forward as now it's going to be a home game against Burnley, which the fans are going to expect us to win.

"It's been good under the new gaffer and everyone at the club has got a point to prove.

"We want to prove we can stay in this league again and he wants to prove that as well, so it's going to be a different season, I feel."