The midfielder has caught the eye at Selhurst Park and now has the World Cup and Champions League in his sights
For all the milestones Adam Wharton has ticked off since he signed for Crystal Palace in January last year there is one he has yet to celebrate: scoring a goal.
It took only four months for the midfielder to earn a place in England’s Euro 2024 squad thanks to some scintillating performances for the club, although Wharton didn’t play a minute at the tournament after making his debut in a friendly against Bosnia and Herzegovina.
He had to wait until last month to win his second cap, having played a starring role in Palace’s FA Cup final victory over Manchester City – one of the 21-year-old’s many admirers and the visitors to Selhurst Park on Sunday. But Palace supporters have still not been treated to Wharton’s trademark backflip goal celebration, honed on a trampoline in his parents’ back garden in Blackburn.
Having joined his home town club’s academy at six, Wharton showcased his acrobatic ability when he scored his first goal for Blackburn against Birmingham 12 years later and he scored three more in his 44 appearances for the Lancashire club. The meeting with City will be his 50th for Palace since his move for an initial £18m and there have been signs recently that he is getting closer to breaking his duck, even if the laid-back Wharton doesn’t seem concerned. “If I don’t get assists or goals but I know I’ve played well, then I’m not too fussed – but I might score and have a terrible game,” he said last month.
