'A step ahead' - why Wharton holds key for Palace

When Crystal Palace look to take a step towards more silverware on Tuesday at Emirates Stadium, Adam Wharton may well hold the key.

The 21-year-old midfielder helped the Eagles to FA Cup glory against Manchester City earlier this year and then to Community Shield success against Liverpool.

Oliver Glasner's side are two rounds from another trip to Wembley in the EFL Cup but must first overcome Premier League leaders Arsenal in the quarter-finals.

If Palace are to add to their recent success, and become a consistent presence in European competition, keeping Wharton during the looming January transfer window could be crucial.

"He is still a young player, but the way he moves around the pitch he looks so calm and he hasn't even played 50 Premier League games yet," Match of the Day pundit Thomas Hitzlsperger said recently.

"Being so central and being so inexperienced yet having such an effect on this team is really impressive. A modern number six who passes the ball but also wins it back.

"His orientation around the pitch is constantly on. He knows where he is, he knows where his team-mates are. Sometimes he jogs around and doesn't really get a sweat on but he knows where he needs to be in his position. Nobody can get the ball off him."

Palace are now eighth in the Premier League after a 4-1 loss to Leeds on Saturday, having slipped from fifth, but are only three points behind fourth-placed Chelsea.

They have entered a two-legged play-off in the Conference League and will need Wharton to be at his best should they wish to progress and keep their European dream alive.

The "classy, fiercely competitive midfielder", according to BBC Sport's chief football writer Phil McNulty, has been "running games" with his "loping, languid style".

It is no surprise that he has been linked with a host of Premier League clubs including Chelsea, Liverpool and both Manchester teams.

Here we take an in-depth look into Wharton and how he compares to other Premier League midfielders.

Wharton impressed in the middle of the park despite a 3-0 defeat against Manchester City in December.

During the game no player won more tackles than his four, which should come as no surprise with the England international, according to Opta, averaging 2.2 tackles per game.

Defensively strong, he also on average makes 2.1 interceptions per game, highlighting game intelligence and ability to read situations.

He came close to scoring but hit the post and wasted two good opportunities, which shows that in front of goal he needs to improve and that attacking actions do not come naturally to a defensively-minded player.

Wharton has played 1,213 minutes so far in the Premier League this season, making 15 appearances.

On average he makes 4.9 progressive passes per match and 0.7 chances from open play.

Compared to his team-mates he is first for most attempted passes in the final third (170), second for through balls (8) and one behind Yeremy Pino, who is the leader for chances created (21).

Widening the conversation to include other Premier League midfielders, Wharton boasts a 50% dribble completion with only Elliot Anderson (53.9%) and Declan Rice (57.1%) averaging higher.

Rice also leads on progressive carries with 11.3, followed by Anderson (9.8) and then Bruno Guimaraes (6.5). Moises Caicedo averages 6.1 and Wharton 4.8.

Out of those five midfielders, Wharton may be bottom for passes and passing accuracy under high-intensity pressure, but he has the third-most forward passes completed under high-intensity pressure per 90 minutes with 6.53, which implies he is more likely to try line-breaking passes.

Defensively, compared with his fellow midfielders he ranks second for interceptions made (1.1) behind Caicedo, fourth for possession won, and third for most tackles made and duels won.

Considered one for the future, he is showing that he can be in the conversation currently with the very best in the Premier League.

It comes as no surprise to Wharton himself that there is still work to do.

"I try to take bits from everyone," the midfielder said, when his side beat Wolves 2-0 last month. "It doesn't matter if it's the opposition or in training, people come up in different positions."

He added: "I chat to them off the pitch as well to learn different things, even if it's not necessarily to do with football, but the mental side of things.

"It's little things. I try to take as much in as I can and hopefully it can help me improve.

"You've got to be like that in football, especially with how it's changing so much."

Match of the Day pundit and former Manchester City goalkeeper Shay Given praised the England international's intelligence.

"He strikes me as a player you don't have to overly coach, he understands the position," said Given.

"Sometimes he stands still and lets the play run around him. He knows the pass before it even comes to win. His brain works a step ahead of those around him.

"For me, he's one of the most gifted midfielders in the Premier League. Does he get into the team for the World Cup?

"He's definitely on the plane in my opinion."