Ghanaian youngster Jesurun Rak-Sakyi has earned praise from Crystal Palace boss Roy Hodgson after a scintillating performance in their score-less draw with Nottingham Forest.
Rak-Sakyi came on for the injured Jeffrey Schlupp after just 25 minutes, and made a positive impact on the right-wing – crucially, both on and off the ball.
Crystal Palace settled for a goalless draw against Nottingham Forest in Roy Hodgson's 400th game as a Premier League manager.
In a game of few chances, Forest's Morgan Gibbs-White went closest of all players when his cushioned volley came back off the post in the first half.
Forest centre-back Murillo was denied by Sam Johnstone after a brilliant run, while Jean-Philippe Mateta dragged Palace's best chance wide.
The draw leaves Palace ninth and Forest 13th, eight and five points clear of the relegation zone respectively at this early stage.
“I was delighted for him [Jesurun Rak-Sakyi],” Hodgson said. “He came back from a very successful loan spell. There were a lot of clubs interested in taking him again.
“I had to fight with him a little bit to persuade him that if he really wants to be a Premier League player he is in the best place and chances will come, and today he got that chance and I think he took it extremely well.
“He didn’t just do well on the ball, he also did his defensive work. Of course when you’ve got wingers, talented wingers, that is one of the things you ask questions about: is he going to be good on the ball for those few moments he’s got it, but also what is he going to be like when we’re working hard to stop them doing something with it?”
