Wilfried Zaha’s development was recognised when he received the Football League Young Player of the Year on Sunday but the 19-year-old admits he is struggling to cope with increasingly aggressive treatment from defenders.
The Crystal Palace winger was sent off in Saturday’s 1-1 draw at Burnley when he reacted to some rough treatment by raking his studs down defender David Edgar’s Achilles.
It is the third time in two seasons that Zaha has seen red and he understands the need to control his temper.
“It’s something that I’m struggling to handle,” he said. “I’m going to have to because I’m the kind of player that’s going to get kicked. I just have to deal with it and not react.
“All I can do is learn and make sure it never happens again. Every game goes towards my development and this is another lesson.”
Zaha’s performances this season, most notably in the Carling Cup quarter-final victory at Manchester United, saw the Ivory Coast-born Londoner rewarded with an England Under-21 debut against Belgium this month.
His display in the 4-0 win prompted England interim coach Stuart Pearce to urge Zaha to pledge his allegiance to his adopted country but the youngster is finding it difficult to commit.
“I’ve been thinking about it a lot,” he said. “My family and I have been talking it over and over. I’ve not made a definite decision. It’s hard but I’m going to have to make it sooner or later.”
