WILFRIED Zaha will not be pitching up at Wanderers any time soon – but Dougie Freedman believes there would be no shortage of takers should Manchester United decide to move him on.

The former Crystal Palace winger has been tipped to be part of Louis Van Gaal’s clearout at Old Trafford. But Freedman – Zaha’s mentor for several years at Selhurst Park – believes the 21-year-old will do everything he can to impress his new boss.

“I spoke to him when he was on tour with United and he said he’d be working very hard to get in the new manager’s plans,” the Wanderers boss said.

“I am pretty sure he (Van Gaal) will have a conversation with him about exactly what he has to do.

“If he isn’t in his plans then I’m sure there would be a number of Premier League takers.”

Freedman was linked with Zaha last season but reckons his former charge now needs to be playing top-flight football. And he is not ruling out that happening at United, despite the changes being implemented by the Reds’ new Dutch boss.

“It is difficult for young players when you are moving home for the first time,” he said. “The expectation levels are a lot higher with a club like United. But he is a talented boy. Sir Alex Ferguson saw that and paid a lot of money for him.

“That talent doesn’t leave you. Temporarily it can leave you during spells in your career. But I am pretty sure he will bounce back for Man United.”