There was a look of surprise on Evann Guessand’s face as team-mate Jorgen Strand Larsen approached, one hand behind his back, to interrupt preparations for Crystal Palace’s training session.
“I have to take you out, Evann,” said the Norwegian somewhat menacingly. But things can change quickly, and they did. Rather than anything sinister, Strand Larsen handed Guessand a trophy to confirm his status as Palace’s player of the month for February, having taken 46 per cent of the fan vote. The Ivorian, initially wary, was rendered speechless instead. Then delighted.
Such has been the speed at which Guessand’s career has changed trajectory over the last few weeks.
Since joining Palace on loan from Aston Villa at the end of the January transfer window, he has made a notable impact for Oliver Glasner’s side, scoring two late goals, as well as providing an assist to help beat rivals Brighton & Hove Albion, across seven appearances and only 303 minutes in all competitions. Those numbers, though, only tell a fraction of the story.
The 24-year-old is starting to find his feet in the Premier League, offering this Palace side something different and the closest thing yet to an Eberechi Eze replacement.
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Guessand might have joined Palace from Nice in the summer instead of Villa. The south London club pushed hard to sign him, with Glasner conducting a Zoom call with the forward after discussions between the clubs had been held in the south of France.
The Palace manager was especially keen to sign Guessand after the recruitment department highlighted his qualities, but ultimately Villa closed a deal for €35million (£30.4m; $40.5m). Instead, excitement abounded in the west Midlands about a forward who had been in demand among other Premier League sides.
Yet expectation did not meet reality at Villa Park.
Guessand struggled, scoring twice in 21 appearances across all competitions, and did not complete a full Premier League game. Those two goals came in the Europa League.
Evann Guessand struggled at Aston Villa (Darren Staples/AFP via Getty Images)
But he has performed well so far at Palace.
There is still work to be done, but he is the only natural ball carrier in Glasner’s squad and he is prepared to put himself about, driving at defenders and creating space. It has led to calls already from some fans for a permanent deal.
There is an option for that to happen, but it is dependent on Guessand meeting a set number of appearances and eight goal involvements. Palace have paid a £2million loan fee to take him until the summer. A permanent deal would cost a further £28m.
A last-minute winner against Wolverhampton Wanderers on February 22 set an upbeat tone as he ran onto Tyrick Mitchell’s low ball to finish well. Another followed to guarantee victory in the second leg against Zrinjski Mostar in the Conference League. Fed by Brennan Johnson, Guessand raced onto the pass and slotted a smart finish across and beyond goalkeeper Goran Karacic.
Yet it has been the way he has worked well with his pace and the ball that has impressed most.
Palace have been too passive and slow in their play in recent months. Guessand has provided a welcome impetus, typified by his strength, drive forward and slipped pass to set up Ismaila Sarr’s winner at the Amex Stadium last month.
“He’s had a good start. He’s always able to create something. He still has to learn our structure, the way we are playing,” Glasner said in his press conference before the 3-1 win over Tottenham Hotspur on Thursday. “He didn’t play so many minutes at Villa, that’s why I rested him (against Manchester United).
“He can do things that nobody expects.”
The praise was elevated after that goal against Zrinjski.
“He’s an instinct player in attack and we want to leave him this instinct in attack,” Glasner added in his press conference after that game. “Defensively, we have a bit of work to do with him. For example, he closed the pass away to the wing-back. This is our trigger to press. He opened the middle a few times.
“He will get used to it but in attack, he’s doing really well, giving us something special, some creativity. He can dribble one-v-one and he can finish.”
The role he has undertaken at Palace is different from the one in which he struggled at Villa. Other clubs may have debated his best position, but manager Unai Emery’s fondness for attacking versatility meant that was not as much of an issue at Villa, prompting them to spend what they felt was fair money to bring him in from Nice.
Emery was broadly pleased with Guessand, apart from one incident against Brighton in December when the manager felt he was walking around. The pair spoke regularly over the season, with Villa’s manager explaining the need to adapt to his highly specific remit for a right-winger.
There is no such issue at Palace, where he has settled more quickly into Glasner’s system as a No 10, playing mostly in the left-sided role previously occupied by Eze, who signed for Arsenal in the summer. Palace have tended to have a player in the style of an Eze, Wilfried Zaha or Michael Olise in their lineup over recent years but by the end of last summer’s transfer window, all three had departed.
Guessand fits that ball-carrier, more technical and quick profile.
Evann Guessand scored Palace’s late winner against Wolverhampton Wanderers (Luke Hales/Getty Images)
Villa believe he is better suited to Palace’s system as he can struggle in tight areas, but is physical and athletic, making him good in transition — a staple of Palace’s play.
The impression from one figure who attended a meeting between Guessand’s representatives and Villa after the player returned from international duty with the Ivory Coast at the Africa Cup of Nations was that all parties were content for him to stay in the Midlands. But he ended up being convinced to leave by Glasner, who is particularly good at explaining to potential signings where and how they will fit in. Villa were content they had sufficient forward options, too.
The financial package matched their valuation, while Guessand felt suited to the No 9 or No 10 roles he was told he could fill.
“They packed a 3-4-3 system at Nice and he had, in this position, his best season,” Glasner added before the Tottenham game. “Sometimes he played as a striker, sometimes as a winger. He never felt 100 per cent this was his position perfectly, where he has the freedom to move in the right areas. He can drop out and into the striker position, where he can help the team.
“He gets this freedom in our attack.
“Unfortunately, we couldn’t realise the deal in the summer but now he’s here. There are still things to improve but he shows he can help us.
“We knew when Eze left we needed someone who can score and assist and someone who can dribble past a player and Evann is getting better and better in this position.”
Evann Guessand drives forward in possession at Brighton (Glyn Kirk/AFP via Getty Images)
As a No 10 at Palace, his explosiveness fills a gap that had been glaringly missing, but there are questions about his decision-making and technical ability once he has driven on or carried the ball forward to progress beyond his man. Those limitations have been evident since his move, even if the positive contributions are outweighing the negative.
He faded in the second half against Tottenham, being culpable in particular for not releasing Ismaila Sarr on the counter until it was too late.
Guessand may eventually end up as a striker, but the No 10 role at Palace could help him to bridge the gap to that position. His ability is most evident in his running in behind and finishing, and he is not convincing technically or in his hold-up play.
A promising start at Palace has clearly made an impression on Glasner. The challenge will be if Guessand’s form tails off but for now, he is providing something different.
That is why he has excited and impressed fans in equal measures.