Keshi Anderson, as he looks to impress the new Crystal Palace boss, was handed a start by Frank de Boer against Liverpool in the Premier League Asia Trophy defeat on Wednesday.
The forward, who got 65 minutes under his belt, told the Official Website Palace had been under pressure in the first half but he took encouragement from some good openings created, enjoying the experience personally.
‘It was good. I felt like in the first half we were a bit under the cosh, Liverpool kept the ball well and there was more discipline and keeping our shape when we didn`t have the ball. There were times where we could have been a bit better at keeping it but there were a few bits going forward where we looked good and created a few chances. I enjoyed it personally; the boys worked hard and hopefully we can go that one step further in the next game and get the win.’
Anderson had a first half opening but the former non-league forward, brought to Palace by former boss Alan Pardew, gaining experience during loans at Doncaster, Bolton and Northampton before inclusion in the Eagles squad last season, couldn’t take it when denied by Liverpool goalkeeper Simon Mignolet.
He admitted that had played on his mind a little but Anderson went on to say he’s going to keep working hard in pre-season as he looks to make the number 10 position in de Boer’s setup his own.
‘I was going through it in the changing room and Freddie [Ladapo] asked If I was daydreaming and I said I was going through it all again in my head. I feel like I took it quite early when the ball has been reversed back to me so I took it as early as possible thinking the keeper is going to have to try and get across if I try to sneak it in at the back post but he`s got his hand down there just in time and it`s gone around the corner. On another day it could have gone in but the keeper has done well.’
Adding: ‘Last season when I was on loan I played in the number 10 position when I was on my own, but this position is a lot different where we played with the two 10s. It is a lot more demanding going up and forward and doing the defensive side of it, but I enjoy it because it helps me get on the ball more and that way I can affect things more going forward, so it helps me become a better player.’
Meanwhile, Aaron Wan-Bissaka’s introduction saw him making his Palace debut.
The full back, working his way through the clubs’ system since the age of 11, named on the bench for several Premier League games last season, made his Palace bow when he came on ahead of the hour mark.
Wan-Bissaka told the Official Website this moment was a dream come true.
‘I`m over the moon because it`s something I`ve always dreamed of since I was a kid and obviously it`s now come true so I`m glad it`s happened. At the beginning when I came on it was hard but I got into it and felt fine. I was confident on the ball, getting forward and also defending so everything went alright.’
He went on to say he thought Palace were a bit unlucky on the day but hopes for improved fortunes going forward.
‘We were unlucky in the second half; they got a little nick and got a shot off and then after that our heads went down a bit but we still tried to get back into the game, so hopefully we`ll have a better time in the next one.’
Along with Wan-Bissaka, de Boer also included development squad players Nya Kirby, involved for the first time too, and Michael Phillips, who played a part in pre-season last summer.
Mixing with the first team is something Wan-Bissaka said he’s now getting used to but having players he’s grown up with at Palace involved in pre-season this summer too has helped.
He concluded: ‘It`s good because we`re all of a similar age group and we`re used to playing together. With Michael I`ve been playing with him since the under-11s and we used to go to football together so it`s nice to have those kind of players in the side with me. I`m getting used to being around the first-team now because I`ve trained with them a lot and spent time around them off the field so I`m really enjoying it. The manager has told us all that there is a chance for us here to impress, and that`s what I want to take so I`ll keep going.’
