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This article is part of Football FanCast’s In Numbers series, which takes a statistical look at performances, season-long form and reported transfer targets…
After selling Aaron Wan-Bissaka to Manchester United in a deal worth £50m this summer, you would’ve expected Crystal Palace to sign a replacement.
However, the Eagles opted not to splash the cash on a new face to replace the academy graduate, and instead decided to go into the new campaign with Joel Ward as the only right-back at the club – a bold decision, to say the least.
The Englishman has played every minute of the Premier League campaign so far, but was an injury doubt for the visit of League Two side Colchester in the Carabao Cup, with academy centre-back Sam Woods deputising for him in an unfamiliar position at right-back.
At just 20 years of age, you could forgive Woods for turning in an average performance in a position that he isn’t accustomed to.
However, the man with just one first-team appearance prior to Tuesday evening’s fixture impressed and showed signs that he can deputise for Ward at right-back on a more regular basis.
Woods almost scored a fantastic goal on his first ever start for the south Londoners after a nice exchange with Connor Wickham and Christian Benteke inside the box, whilst also delivering a solid performance from a defensive aspect.
The youngster, wearing the No.35 shirt on the night, won four aerial duels and made three clearances.
He also managed to complete one dribble as well as one tackle on a night where he enhanced his first team prospects.
Of course, one may suggest that the quality of the opposition must be taken into account on this occasion.
However, you could also argue that the League Two side performed above their expected ability with Colchester more than holding their own against the likes of Benteke, Max Meyer, Andros Townsend and Victor Camarasa.
This makes Woods’ performance even more impressive given how difficult Colchester made the fixture, and whilst it wouldn’t be wise to jump to conclusions and say Woods will go straight into Roy Hodgson’s thinking for the Premier League, there were plenty of encouraging signs from the defender to suggest that he could be a promising understudy to Ward.
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