Olise’s Former Manager At Reading Rates Him High

Reading chiefs are convinced Michael Olise will be a huge success with Crystal Palace.

Olise made his mark at senior level at Reading, winning the EFL Young Player of the Season award in his final campaign at the club before he moved to Palace.

First watching on as sporting director and then taking charge as manager, Mark Bowen quickly became familiar with Olise’s self-confidence.

“In the last 20 years I’ve had working with young players, I found him to be quite unique. The first thing that stuck in my mind was the arrogance that he had and I mean that in a nice way. In the training sessions, he would literally stand on the ball and invite the defenders over. One or two senior players would clatter into him, sending him a little message.” Bowen told the London Evening Standard.

The 20-year-old has already made seven league starts in 2022 after injury hampered his flow and his former manager is confident the minutes will only increase.

“It will come, he’ll be a regular,” Bowen believes.

“I look at him now and for all the ability he’s got, what really makes top players is that they make the right choices at the right time. When to pass, when to dribble, when to shoot.

“Michael will get there but he’s still learning those key things.”