Conor Gallagher has credited Crystal Palace for giving him confidence and a platform to perform after winning the Men’s Young Player of the Year at the London Football Awards.
Gallagher joined the Eagles in the summer on a season-long loan from west London rivals Chelsea.
The 22-year-old is Palace’s joint-top goalscorer – tied with Wilfried Zaha on eight for the season – and earned a call up to Gareth Southgate’s England squad in November after winning back-to-back player of the month awards for the Eagles.
Gallagher picked up the award ahead of team-mate Tyrick Mitchell, Fulham’s Fabio Carvalho, Arsenal’s Bukayo Saka, and Spurs midfielder Oliver Skipp.
“I’m delighted to get this award,” Gallagher told www.cpfc.co.uk.
“I’m very proud for me and my family – it means a lot to me.
“I must say I’ve got to give a lot of credit to Crystal Palace. They’ve given me the confidence and platform to show people what I can do in the best way possible.
“I’ve got to thank them for that because I don’t think this would be possible without being able to do that here.”
Gallagher was close to joining the Eagles under Roy Hodgson in the summer of 2020, but they chose to re-sign Michy Batshuayi instead.
Gallagher spent the season on loan at West Brom but would seal his loan move to Selhurst Park in the summer to join Patrick Vieira.
“I feel like the gaffer knows how to get the best out of me,” said Gallagher.
“He knows how he wants me to play and the best way I can show what I can do. He told me this at the start of the season and has given me confidence throughout the season by playing me as much as he has and having trust in me, and talking to me, so I’m really thankful to him.
“He’s helped me so much so far this season, and I feel like receiving this award as well – he has been a big part of it.
“He’s been amazing to work under, and I’m hoping to learn even more from him until the end of the season.”
The South Londoners are into the quarter-finals of the FA Cup and are 11th in the Premier League, heading into tomorrow’s trip to Wolves.
“We’re going to take each game as it comes, keep trying to improve as a team, and I’m going to keep trying to do what I can to help the team.
“Hopefully, we can finish the season as high as possible and get a few more wins before the end of the season.”
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