“Baptism of fire”… Roy Hodgson drops Adam Wharton hint after Crystal Palace debut
Crystal Palace manager Roy Hodgson has given his assessment of teen debutant Adam Wharton on what was a forgettable day at the Amex Stadium.
It was a successful week for Crystal Palace away from on-field matters, as the club welcomed defender Daniel Munoz from Genk, and teenager Adam Wharton from Blackburn Rovers.
The Englishman arrived with an £18.5m price tag in south London and was forced to show his worth at the deep end, just two days after his touchdown in the top-flight.
Deployed primarily as a central midfielder, with the flexibility to play in the heart of defence, Roy Hodgson opted to give the 19-year-old his big chance against Brighton on Saturday, as the youngster replaced Marc Guehi after just 28 minutes.
It didn’t take long for the teen to feel the wrath of the fixture, and of the Premier League, as he was dispossessed in the build-up to the Seagull’s third goal, in what was a blistering move from the hosts.
Speaking after Wharton’s debut, Hodgson branded the scenario as a “baptism of fire”, as the versatile gem was forced to adapt quickly in what was not only his debut but a highly contested affair between two rivals, away from home.
Despite the error for Facundo Buonanotte’s goal, the manager admitted that the teen’s performance justified why the Eagles made the move for him.
“He showed why we bought him. It was a baptism of fire, his performance was good I thought, and he will get better and better.”
Not only did Wharton adapt to playing in the Premier League and out of his favoured position, the former Blackburn Rovers gem won five of his nine attempted duels, showing his strengths on what was a demoralising day for Palace.
This season has been tough at times for the Eagles, and particularly Hodgson, who has come under scrutiny for his comments and management of the array of young talent at Selhurst Park.
In November 2023, the 76-year-old admitted that he was “wrong” to blast Palace’s younger players, whom he claimed made the side “weaker” during a defeat to Tottenham Hotspur.
The manager’s glowing assessment of Wharton could be a sign of him turning a page in trusting youth players, with Selhurst rich with rising talent, who at this time could certainly bolster the depth around the squad.
Wharton will undoubtedly have another chance to shine during the early days of his Premier League career, after what was a brutal introduction to life at Palace.
