Wharton Urged to Emulate Rice’s Goal-Scoring Evolution
Crystal Palace midfielder Adam Wharton is being advised to look to Arsenal’s Declan Rice as a model for adding goals to his game, according to recent comments from former Palace striker Clinton Morrison.
The Goal Drought
Despite showing promise as one of the Premier League’s brightest young talents, Wharton has not scored a goal for Crystal Palace. His last goal came on January 20, 2024, while playing for Blackburn in the Championship. He has played 84 fixtures for Palace, winning the FA Cup and Community Shield and also featuring in the Conference League.
Morrison’s Assessment
He can’t strike a ball properly. When I see him on the edge of the box, I never think he’s going to rocket one into the top corner. So that’s a thing – he’s going to have to add more goals to his game for sure.Clinton Morrison, via GOAL
Morrison, speaking via Freebets.com, highlighted a key area for improvement in Wharton’s game.
Rice as a Benchmark
Morrison believes Declan Rice provides a strong example for Wharton to follow, noting Rice’s own development in goal-scoring ability.
When you look at someone like Declan Rice, who’s got goals and covers the whole pitch – I know they’re different footballers – but I think Adam Wharton needs to add more goals to his game. When I’m looking at him on the edge of the box, he never quite strikes it cleanly enough. So you’re looking at it thinking he’s got so much more to add to his game and to evolve. But he’ll get there because he’s still at a good age.Clinton Morrison, via GOAL
The Arsenal Effect
Morrison emphasized that Rice’s transformation occurred after his move to Arsenal.
I think Declan’s the right benchmark. When he goes away with England, those are the sort of players he’s got to be speaking to. Rice didn’t have a lot of goals, it’s not until he went to Arsenal that Declan took his game to a whole different level. That might happen to Adam Wharton when he leaves Palace, goes to a big club and adds more goals. They might put him in a different position where he’s driving forward, creating more. So, yeah, he can look to someone like Declan Rice as the benchmark.Clinton Morrison, via GOAL
Looking Ahead
The advice to Wharton underscores the importance of goal-scoring for modern midfielders and suggests that a move to a larger club could unlock further potential in the young player’s game.
FAQ
- What is Adam Wharton’s current goal drought? Wharton hasn’t scored a goal for Crystal Palace and his last goal was on January 20, 2024, for Blackburn.
- Who is being used as a role model for Wharton? Declan Rice of Arsenal is being cited as a benchmark for Wharton to emulate.
- What did Clinton Morrison say about Wharton’s shooting? Morrison stated that Wharton
can’t strike a ball properly
.
Pro Tip
Developing a consistent goal-scoring threat from midfield can significantly elevate a player’s value and impact on the game.
Stay tuned to 247sports.news for further updates on Adam Wharton and the Premier League.