By Ben Brown

3rd May, 2022 | 7:40pm

Patrick Vieira: Leeds United winger Jack Harrison one of best I coached

Crystal Palace manager has admitted Leeds United winger Jack Harrison is one of the best players he has coached in his managerial career thus far.

The French World Cup winner was the 25-year-olds boss when the pair were at New York City, coaching him to a double-figure goal tally in 2017 which eventually saw the Englishman secure a move to sister club Manchester City.

And despite also working with the likes of David Villa and Andrea Pirlo during his time in the states, Vieira still says Harrison was one of his favourites to work with.

“One of the best young players I worked with was Jack Harrison,” he told Sky Sports Football YouTube channel (2 May).

“When we were at New York he was one of the young players coming through and you could see that he had the ability to go where he is at the moment.”

High Praise

Given the players he has worked with and the illustriousness of his own playing career it’s quite a compliment for Harrison that Vieira thinks of his ability so highly.

The 25-year-old has been a key figure at Elland Road this season as the club desperately looks to avoid relegation, grabbing seven goals in the Premier League including a crucial hat-trick to secure a victory away at West Ham.

In a difficult campaign, he is only one goal away from matching his tally from last season and the signs are there that Harrison can flourish in a team full of confidence which will hopefully be competing in the top-flight next season under Jesse Marsch.

Harrison can be frustrating with his knack of being consistently inconsistent, but there’s no doubt when he gets it right there is a brilliant player within him and we just wish that we got to see it on a more regular basis.

That regularity is sorely needed as Leeds enter a crunch final few weeks of the season.

In other Leeds United news, a BT Sport pundit thinks this decision at Elland Road will ensure the clubs survival.