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Wilfried Zaha (£6.9m) is looking like an essential FPL player to have for Blank Gameweek 35 after Roy Hodgson's latest tactical tweak at Crystal Palace.

The Ivory Coast international has started to play as a striker for the Eagles once again and is reaping the rewards.

He has particularly excelled from a partnership with a resurgent Andros Townsend in the last two games, which bodes well as Palace visit Watford this week.

How does Zaha output differ when played as a striker?

The biggest difference to Zaha's game we see when he plays as a striker, as opposed to a winger, is his shot count is considerably higher.

When searching for goal-scoring midfielders on FPL, this is an essential statistic to look at.

In his last five appearances on the flanks Zaha averaged just 1.2 shots on goal per game. But during the same number of recent appearances as a front man, it's shot up to 2.6.

His accuracy of 40% has remained the same, but the increased level of opportunities means he has found the net three times out of five as a striker compared to zero as a winger.

It is clearly a position Zaha can operate very well in.

Shots per game (last five appearances) Key passes per game (last five appearances) FPL points per game (last five appearances)

His improved contribution to the team is also not just limited to shooting and scoring goals.

When operating up top, Zaha has averaged 2.4 key passes compared to just one per game when in wide areas. His pass completion percentage is also higher too; 84% compared to 77%.

Other than his shot accuracy, the only thing that remains unchanged between the two roles for Zaha is his dribbling. That should come as no surprise as that is such a key aspect of his playing style.

In his last five appearances as a striker or winger, he actually averaged the same number of dribbles per match: 3.6.

(Image: Getty Images)

How has the presence of Andros Townsend helped Zaha?

While there is a big difference between Zaha's output when shifted further forward, his performances have improved even more after Andros Townsend was given a more advanced role too.

Prior to his recent injury, Zaha had been playing alongside Christian Benteke, who had been struggling for form.

Zaha made his comeback to the side by replacing the Belgian target man against Chelsea in GW30, eventually getting the assist for Patrick van Aanholt's consolation goal.

Since then, both of Zaha's stints as a striker have been in a 4-4-2 formation with Townsend next to him as the second forward.

Total shots in last two appearances as...

In both of those matches (Bournemouth away and home against Brighton) Zaha had more shots than any other Palace player (five) and had more dribbles than his colleagues too (four) - a huge improvement from playing with Benteke.

Across those two games, Townsend laid on six key passes, more than any other member of the Palace squad. The link between this statistic and Zaha's increased potential should not be overlooked.

The England man has been a consistent provider of assists this season. He tops the Palace charts in that statistic with eight assists, two of those coming in the last four gameweeks.

Given the success of this combination up front in the last two matches, you'd expect Roy Hodgson to start Zaha and Townsend in those roles again. That makes both of them serious contenders for a place in Free Hit squads this week.

Watford have conceded 13 goals in their last six league matches and have virtually nothing left to play for in the league.

Priced at just £5.6m and with an ownership of just 1.4%, Townsend could be considered a great differential route into this Palace attack for those looking to make up lost ground in Blank Gameweek 35.

Of course the most popular Crystal Palace asset ahead of the trip to Watford is club captain and top goalscorer Luka Milivojevic (£5.1m).

The designated penalty-taker has pulled in nine points or more in his last four matches from three goals and two assists.

The Serbian international is currently the second-most signed player in the build-up to BGW35 with 32,000 new owners already.