FORMER Crystal Palace star Sean Scannell says it's only a matter of time before Wilfried Zaha is playing in the Premier League.
The Huddersfield Town winger left Selhurst Park in the summer and received a good reception from the Palace faithful before Saturday's 1-1 draw.
However, after winning the Terriers a first-half penalty in front of the Holmesdale Stand, those cheers turned to boos from some sections of the home support, who felt he went down too easily.
"It felt great to be back, even though I got a few boos because the Palace fans thought I dived," he told Advertiser Sport.
"I didn't go looking for it and I didn't even go to the referee after. Obviously, I dropped to the floor because Joel Ward made contact with me, but it wasn't a dive."
And having now played with and against Zaha, Scannell paid tribute to the 20-year-old, who opened the scoring with a thunderous strike in front of the television cameras.
"Wilfried has got what it takes to be a world-beater," he said.
"He can be one of the best players in the Premier League, but he has to keep working hard.
"Everything that has happened to him, he deserves it. I do talk to him a lot and I'm happy that everything is happening to him now."
And does the Palace academy product think his former team-mate should jump to the top flight next month or wait until the summer?
"I think he should stay at Palace for a little bit longer then make the move at the right time," added Scannell.
"He would definitely make it in the Premier League."
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The Huddersfield Town winger left Selhurst Park in the summer and received a good reception from the Palace faithful before Saturday's 1-1 draw.
However, after winning the Terriers a first-half penalty in front of the Holmesdale Stand, those cheers turned to boos from some sections of the home support, who felt he went down too easily.
"It felt great to be back, even though I got a few boos because the Palace fans thought I dived," he told Advertiser Sport.
"I didn't go looking for it and I didn't even go to the referee after. Obviously, I dropped to the floor because Joel Ward made contact with me, but it wasn't a dive."
And having now played with and against Zaha, Scannell paid tribute to the 20-year-old, who opened the scoring with a thunderous strike in front of the television cameras.
"Wilfried has got what it takes to be a world-beater," he said.
"He can be one of the best players in the Premier League, but he has to keep working hard.
"Everything that has happened to him, he deserves it. I do talk to him a lot and I'm happy that everything is happening to him now."
And does the Palace academy product think his former team-mate should jump to the top flight next month or wait until the summer?
"I think he should stay at Palace for a little bit longer then make the move at the right time," added Scannell.
"He would definitely make it in the Premier League."
The contents of this article must not be reproduced without the permission of the Croydon Advertiser.
Follow me on Twitter for the latest Palace news, exclusives and live match updates @AdvertiserSport
If you're on Facebook, please 'Like' our page at www.facebook.com/AdvertiserSport
Watch our exclusive away videos following Palace around the country on our YouTube channel at www.youtube.com/AdvertiserSport
