By Andy McSteen

Eagles boss Neil Warnock admitted it was touch and go whether returning winger Wilfried Zaha would actually be fit to face Burnley today.

The 21-year-old returned to the club on loan from Manchester United more than a fortnight ago and scored in the 3-3 draw at Newcastle.

But Warnock revealed there had been a big question mark if Zaha made it for this afternoon’s 0-0 draw with the Clarets after he picked up an injury in training late this week, one he shook off to start the game before eventually being replaced in the second half by Yannick Bolasie. 

“I was pleased with his performance,” said Warnock.

“On Thursday he came off from training injured.

“He was carried off, as he had these new-fangled boots.

“His studs got stuck in the grass and he went over on his ankle - I never thought he’d be anywhere near starting today.

“But all credit to him and Yannick Bolasie, too.

“A couple of times I didn’t even know what Yannick was going to do and I said that to him: ‘I don’t know how defenders mark you because I haven’t got a clue what you’re going to do’.

“I thought he was great - he ran at them and that’s what I want him to do, to cause problems.” 

Warnock will now prepare his squad for the trip to Everton next Sunday as he continues to get to know his players.

“It was lovely today,” he said about returning to Selhurst Park.

“I am glad the game is over because we can get on with it now.

“We’ve got to brush up on some things. We tried to win the game best we could but we were probably a little bit too stretched near the end.

“I would rather go and try and win games and I think we’ve got a team that can take points off of most teams in the league.”

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