Crystal Palace delved into the transfer market to solve the club's current issues in January, with a disernible loss of swagger in the midfield contributing towards the dip in form following the conclusion of the 2022 World Cup.

While the Croydon-based outfit are once again treading water above the depths of the division, six points and six places above the relegation zone, present fears over the threat of the drop-zone are not too grave, but the need for an upswing is now paramount, with the Premier League's stragglers starting to show signs of life.

Eagles boss Patrick Vieira has landed Arsenal's Sambi Albert Lokonga on loan and also clinched the permanent signing of 20-year-old midfielder Naouirou Ahamada in the closing stages of the January transfer window, he might find fruit in turning to the club's youth academy and providing starlet Kaden Rodney with the platform to flourish.

Despite the recent incomings, two talented young midfielders certainly capable of adding a fresh sheen to the Selhurst Park centre, there is a clear requirement for an upturn in form, and the central engine must be the nucleus of new life, with journalist Tom Dutton lamenting the current "struggling" crop.

With this in mind, Vieira might be prudent to look to start the talented Rodney's integration into the first-team fold, with the 18-year-old impressing at youth level.

Indeed, in the early stages of last season, The Guardian published their annual Next Generation list of players with an ostensibly big future on Premier League turf, and Rodney was included.

The Guardian's Ed Aarons wrote: "The emergence of Rodney – an intelligent defensive midfielder who is also capable of scoring spectacular goals – as one of the standout performers from the first crop of players since the club’s academy attained Category One status was a promising sign for the future.”

Rodney made his debut for the first team against Oxford United in the Carabao Cup earlier this season, while regularly nurturing his skills with the second team where he has made a total of 17 outings, scoring a goal and serving two assists.

But certainly, the "extremely talented" gem - as dubbed by Rob Quinn - has abilities that are well-suited to Vieira's system, and this aforementioned 'intelligence' could pay dividends in rekindling the fire that has dimmed.

To a degree, Vieira must be circumspect in pushing this talented young player closer towards prominence, careful not to tip the boat before setting sail, but with the two new arrivals, and the added stability that comes in tow, Rodney could indeed start to acclimatise to the robust nature of top-flight football.