Wilfried Zaha nails possession football as source of Frank de Boer woes but is 'confident' Roy Hodgson will lead Crystal Palace back to winning ways

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Crystal Palace winger Wilfried Zaha has insisted that the Eagles' current form is only temporary and that they will turn their season around under Roy Hodgson. 

Speaking on BBC's Premier League Show, Zaha, who could return from a lengthy spell on the sidelines against Chelsea on Saturday, reflected on a torrid time under former boss Frank de Boer. 

The 24-year-old claimed the dramatic change in tactics to possession-based football was part of the Dutchman's demise.

Wilfried Zaha cornered Frank de Boer's attempts for 'possession' football as the source of his axing as the winger felt: 'There wasn't really the right mixture for the way we wanted to play.'

The winger was speaking with BBC's Gabby Logan on the Premier League Show on Thursday

Their defeat by Manchester United made Palace the first team in 129 years of the Football League to lose their first seven matches without scoring a single goal, while Zaha named tactics as one of the issues. 

'He (De Boer) wanted to make Palace into a team that had more possession,' Zaha told BBC's Gabby Logan. 'But obviously some players aren't as comfortable on the ball as he would like. That didn't really help us at the time.

'There wasn't really the right mixture (of players) for the way we wanted to play.' 

Zaha has been sidelined for Crystal Palace's worst start to a Premier League season

The 24-year-old suffered a knee injury on the opening day and has been sideline ever since

Zaha has been absent from the Palace first-team since suffering a knee injury on their opening day defeat by Premier League new boys Huddersfield. 

But Hodgson's hopes ahead of a tough visit from the champions Chelsea to Selhurst Park were boosted when Zaha returned to training last week. 

Still bottom and without a win though Zaha believes Hodgson, who became the top-flight's oldest ever newly appointed manager at 70 years old, can turn it around for the Eagles. 

But is nearing a return to the side and could make his against Chelsea on Saturday

'I'm very confident,' he said. 'We've got good enough players but it's just a thing where if you don't have the confidence then you can't play like yourselves. 

'Soon enough we will go back to ourselves. We've got a good enough team and I think we'll get out of this position.' 

The former English international changed allegiances in 2016 and elected to play for his birth-place of the Ivory Coast after a lengthy spell as an outcast from the national side.

Zaha, who missed his his country's recent World Cup qualifiers as he continues his recovery, spoke of his frustrations after four years of England rejection. 

'I had a four-year gap where I was not picked (for England),' he said. 'So I just thought: 'Fair enough, I'm obviously not good enough.

'I had four years of no football, while Ivory Coast wanted me and offered me a spot on the team. They see what I can bring to the team and I feel like I made the right decision.' 

And has insisted despite their form, Roy Hodgson can turn Palace's season around