Adam Wharton could be an underrated option for Gareth Southgate this summer. Photo: Getty Images/Ryan Pearce
When Crystal Palace signed teenager Adam Wharton from Blackburn Rovers in January, they did so without much competition for the midfielder, who had gone from Championship prospect to a provisional place in five months England squad for Euro 2024.
This is Wharton, now 20 years old. , achieved this late in the season as Crystal Palace's surge in form saw them finish in tenth place in the Premier League, matching their best ever season, a source of great satisfaction for the club.
That he is one of four Palace players in the 30-man squad named by Gareth Southgate is another Palace record. Most notably of all, he fulfills the role of deep playmaker on the pitch that English football has so strangely failed to fulfill.
Crystal Palace midfielder (left) has adapted well to the Premier League and has progressed quickly. to the England team. Photo: Getty Images/Andrew Kearns
Wharton was equally good in the home wins over West Ham and Newcastle. He's an unusual player. Comfortable taking the ball in tight situations, he pulls the opponent up and then picks off the pass. He is tall and effective in the air. There was speculation that scouting reports to other potential interested parties had cast doubt on his ability to cover the distance required of a modern midfielder. But that was no problem at Selhurst Park or at Anfield, where he covered more than 11km in Palace's shock 1-0 win on April 14. Nicknamed 'Wilpshire Pirlo' after the Lancashire village north of Blackburn where his footballing family lives, Wharton has proven the quality of a Championship football academy. In particular Blackburn, who have developed the player through an impressive program led by academy director Stuart Jones. Wharton's older brother Scott, 26, plays regularly in the first team as a central midfielder.
When he arrived at Palace, Wharton had made just 44 league appearances in less than 18 months before making his league debut in August 2022. Roy Hodgson immediately chose him, and in his successor Oliver Glasner, Wharton found a strong ally. The Austrian is a big fan of a midfielder's «pre-orientation» — the ability to know how to make a pass and find his way out of trouble before he receives the ball.
It has been a golden four weeks for Palace. . “I’m delighted for Adam,” Parish told Telegraph Sport. “It's well deserved for him and for Abs [Eberechi Eze], Mark [Gehi] and Dean [Henderson].
“The fact that Adam believed in us and that players could be selected to play for England for Crystal Palace — this is a huge benefit in terms of attracting talent. This is an exciting [England] team with four Palace players.
“This is a very proud moment for me, the manager, the fans and the recruitment team, and of course their families, team coaches and clubs who developed them along this path. What's even better is that the four of them are such nice guys.”
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