Wilfried Zaha has footballing ability like Neymar and England will regret missing out on his talents, according to the winger's former Crystal Palace team-mate Yannick Bolasie.

Zaha, who rejoined Palace from Manchester United on a permanent basis two years ago after a difficult time at Old Trafford, has steadily become one of the most coveted young players in the Premier League.

The Three Lions will not be able to call on his services, however, with the 24-year-old having instead chosen to represented Ivory Coast, and Everton forward Bolasie has emphasised how much England boss Gareth Southgate will come to rue that decision.

Wilfried Zaha has ability that can be compared to Neymar, according to Yannick Bolasie

Bolasie shared a dressing room with Zaha during the pair's time together at Crystal Palace

'Wilf is getting back to the level (he was at) before he left for United,' Bolasie told Radio Five Live.

'Now he's got the goals and the assists and I do think England have missed out there.'

To illustrate just how highly Bolasie thinks of his Eagles colleague, the forward compared Zaha to one of the world's top players - Brazilian talisman Neymar.

'I do think the penny has dropped for him and, as a player - development-wise, I think with the right coach the guy's got ability of someone like Neymar. I'd got that far,' he said.

'Neymar's at Barca so it's hard to compare... but the ability he's got, it's up there.'

Zaha was born in Ivory Coast but has two England caps, having played against Sweden and Scotland.

However, both games were friendlies and therefore he was able to commit his international future to the country of his birth - and he is in the Ivorian squad for this month's Africa Cup of Nations in Gabon.