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Crystal Palace star Wilfried Zaha is the best player outside the top six, says Jamie Redknapp

AFP/Getty Images
AFP/Getty Images

Crystal Palace star Wilfried Zaha is the best player outside the Premier League's top six clubs, according to Jamie Redknapp.

The Ivory Coast international scored Palace's second as they picked up their first away points of the season in a 3-0 victory at Leicester on Saturday.

The Eagles have enjoyed a marked upturn under Roy Hodgson, jumping up to 14th despite starting the season with seven straight defeats without scoring a goal.

Zaha, who suffered an injury on the opening day and missed the six defeats that followed, helped spring Palace's season into life, scoring the winner in their victory over Chelsea on his return to the side.

He has since added a further three Premier League goals to help Palace go seven games unbeaten and Redknapp says it is "vital" Palace keep hold of their prized asset in January.

"Hodgson has got Palace well organised and has made them hard to beat," Redknapp wrote in the Mail. "They are now unbeaten in seven, keeping clean sheets in three of those games. Even when Palace were rock bottom I maintained their squad was too talented to go down — particularly with Wilfried Zaha fit and firing.

On target: Zaha has scored four goals this season (Getty Images)
On target: Zaha has scored four goals this season (Getty Images)

"Some of the things Zaha was doing on the ball at Leicester were unbelievable. He is the best player outside the big six clubs and it is vital Hodgson keeps hold of him next month."