Crystal Palace will have one hopeful eye on Sheffield United amid Glasner struggles: View | OneFootball

Jesurun Rak-Sakyi is currently making a real impression at Sheffield United

Crystal Palace are enduring some rather tough fortunes right now, but the encouraging development of Jesurun Rak-Sakyi at Sheffield United should offer much-needed positivity and hope.

Rak-Sakyi has been touted for a glittering career at Selhurst Park, and he vindicated his potential by enjoying a scintillating breakthrough campaign in senior football while on loan with Charlton Athletic during the 2021/22 season.

The young winger scored 15 goals and made a further eight assists in League One and he was widely expected to graduate to Championship level on a secondary loan spell to ensure optimal readiness for the eventual integration into Palace's first-team fold.

That came earlier than many anticipated, with then-boss Roy Hodgson electing to keep Rak-Sakyi in his squad as a back-up option to the likes of Ebere Eze and Michael Olise.

Of course, the dynamic duo were phenomenal in tandem last season and both proved completely indispensable, which Rak-Sakyi found out the hard way by playing just 132 minutes of Premier League football.

However, Oliver Glasner elected to make Rak-Sakyi available for loan during the summer, prompting a hotly-contested race for his services in the second-tier. According to reports, QPR and Hull City were both interested, while newly-promoted Premier League side Southampton tried their hand at a swoop, too.

Eventually, though, the Blades won the race for Rak-Sakyi, who notably snubbed an approach from Yorkshire rivals Leeds United.

Jesurun Rak-Sakyi's start to life at Sheffield United

The 22-year-old has embarked upon an encouraging start to life as a Sheffield United player, with his performances becoming integral to the early-season success of his side.

Chris Wilder's team have laid bare their promotion intent by winning six of their opening nine encounters in the Championship, form which leaves them in second-place and only behind league leaders Sunderland by virtue of goal difference.

Had it not been for their two-point deduction, of course, the Blades would be sitting pretty at the top of the table, but they are the only Championship team to remain unbeaten and will face a big test at maintaining that streak when they travel to Elland Road on Friday evening.

Rak-Sakyi had to wait to truly explode into life in the Steel City. The exciting forward was still awaiting a first goal or assist in league action after his opening seven matches, although it is worth noting that his performances had generally provided strong sources of encouragement.

He excelled in outings against Hull City, Watford and Portsmouth, proving a direct and dynamic threat with his quality and willingness to take on opponents in one-v-one situations.

However, Rak-Sakyi really made his mark in the Blades' last match before the October international break, scoring both of his side's goals either side of the interval to inspire a routine 2-0 victory over Luton Town at the Lane.

The Eagles academy product was simply unstoppable against the Hatters, and his display will likely have spurned important positivity back in South London, too.

Jesurun Rak-Sakyi's Sheffield Utd form is a positive for Crystal Palace, Oliver Glasner

In contrast to Sheffield United, Palace are sorely struggling thus far, albeit in the Premier League of course.

But that was not the expectation of Palace, who enjoyed a sensational finish to the previous campaign under Glasner's tuition following his arrival in February.

The Austrian boss stunned the Premier League with a free-flowing and fearless brand of attacking football, which had the aforementioned duo of Eze and Olise at its heart, as Palace won seven of their last 13 games, including memorable victories over the likes of Manchester United, Liverpool and Aston Villa.

However, ex-Reading dynamo Olise departed for Bayern Munich over the summer in a blockbuster £50 million deal and Palace have struggled to continue the momentum generated last season.

The Eagles are one of just four Premier League sides still searching for a win after seven matches and they sit third from bottom in the table, with much riding on Monday night's visit to Nottingham Forest.

It has been a miserable and anti-climatic start to the season for Palace, who have not exhibited that same sense of attacking vigour and initiative. Rak-Sakyi, however, is beginning to pull up trees in South Yorkshire and the Eagles will surely be monitoring his development with both intent and satisfaction.

They are in need of some additional green chutes of positivity at the minute, after all. At the age of 22, Rak-Sakyi is likely to cement himself as a leading figure in a promotion-chasing side all year long, an experience which will put him in good stead for his return to Palace.

The move looks like it is going to be a real positive one for all parties, and Palace will hope to reap the rewards in the years to come.