Crystal Palace best youngsters: 'Enormous' talent and next Jamie Vardy headline next generation

With a proud history of producing players often hailing from south London themselves, the Crystal Palace academy is currently nurturing some very promising youngsters.

Academy director Gary Issott continues to use Palace legend Wilfried Zaha as an example to young prospects, demonstrating what they could achieve in their fledgling careers.

Here, Standard Sport assesses the young Palace stars for whom there are high hopes.

Malcolm Ebiowei (midfielder, 20 years old)

Signed from Derby last year, he went viral this week with a stunning goal from 40 yards for Palace Under-21s in their EFL Trophy defeat to Stevenage.

Ebiowei made five appearances for Palace last season before spending the second half of the season on loan in the Championship with Hull.

Was handed his senior debut at Derby by Wayne Rooney, who said: "He has got an enormous amount of ability."

Jack Wells-Morrison (midfielder, 19 years old)

A versatile midfielder who is just as comfortable sitting deep as he is in an attacking role, he is highly thought of at Palace's Copers Cope Road academy.

Wells-Morrison committed his future to Crystal Palace last week, signing a one-year contract extension to a deal which was due to expire next summer.

May well go out on loan to an EFL side for the second half of the season.

Wells-Morrison has scored three goals in six Premier League 2 games this season and made the bench for Palace's EFL Cup win over Plymouth in August.

Zach Marsh (forward, 18 years old)

Quick and sharp in the box, he has drawn comparisons with Jamie Vardy.

Joined Palace via Watford in 2022 and has not looked back.

Marsh has already scored 14 times this season with a strike rate of a goal ever 79 minutes.

Was playing grassroots football aged 14, and looks up to Harry Kane for his work ethic and how he conducts himself both on and off the pitch.