Ian Wright says it’s unfair Conor Gallagher will not be allowed to play for Crystal Palace in their FA Cup semi-final against Chelsea and admitted he’d have been ‘devastated’ if it had ever happened to him during his playing days.
The former Palace and Arsenal striker was speaking on his podcast Wrighty’s House where he was discussing the Eagles’ impressive journey to the FA Cup last four where they’ll face Gallagher’s parent club at Wembley next month. But due to FA laws the 22-year-old midfielder, who was recently named in Gareth Southgate’s England squad for upcoming friendlies vs Switzerland and Ivory Coast, will not be allowed to play any part in the game.
It’s only the second time that Palace have reached the semi-finals of the FA Cup in the last 25 years but they will have to do so without top-scoring midfielder Gallagher who has two assists from four FA Cup appearances this season.
“If you’ve let a player go from the start of the season then yes he’s your player,” said the former striker turned pundit. “For Conor Gallagher to go to Palace and take them to the levels. He’s one of the main reasons they’re doing what they’re doing. He’s helped get them to a semi-final at Wembley which is what we all dream of as professionals and he can’t play because his parent club is there. There’s something not fair about that. I’d be devastated if I was in his position.”