Wilf Zaha must start enjoying his football again if he is to get back into international contention, according to his manager Alan Pardew.
The 22-year-old made his loan return to Crystal Palace from Manchester United permanent in February, and has impressed his manager ever since.
He played a key role in Palace’s 3-1 victory against QPR on Saturday, and Pardew said it is a sign the youngster is now happier within himself after the disappointment of his short-lived spell at Old Trafford.
"He played with a little bit more of a smile on his face and when you do that you can show a bit of exuberance and try things," he said.
Wilf Zaha celebrates with his Crystal Palace team-mates as they beat QPR 3-1
"I think the Man United thing came too early for a young player who, let's be honest, didn't get enough of an opportunity there.
"He needs to get rid of it now and move on and build his career again.
"There's no reason, in my opinion, why at his age he can't get back to Man United again as a seasoned player who knows how to deal with the situation better."
The form that attracted Sir Alex Ferguson to make Zaha one of his final signings as Manchester United manager also caught the attention of Roy Hodgson.
After impressing within the England Under-21s ranks, Hodgson handed Zaha a senior debut during the November 2012 fixture against Sweden
Wilf Zaha made his England debut in November 2012, but has appeared just once since
There was another appearance against Scotland in August 2013, but since then Zaha has found himself on the periphery of the international scene.
He has since appeared for Gareth Southgate’s Under-21s, and is still eligible to play in the Under-21 European Championship Finals in Czech Republic, a tournament Pardew would love him to be involved in.
"I know Gareth Southgate very well and I'll speak to him," said Pardew.
“He needs to get rid of it now and move on and build his career again”
Alan Pardew on Zaha's Man Utd move
"Wilf has definitely found himself a little bit more and I think Gareth would like somebody in the squad who has the kind of quality that Wilf does.
"But he's got to do it between now and the end of the year and push for a place in that squad - that should be a goal for him."
Zaha will find out if he his part of Southgate's plans for the fixtures against Czech Republic (27 March) and Germany (30 March) on Thursday, when the squad is named.
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