Glenn Murray believes Wilfried Zaha could have been magical at Manchester United under Sir Alex Ferguson.

And he says the Crystal Palace winger is destined to join a top six club again.

Zaha is the biggest threat to Albion's hopes of beating their arch-rivals tonight.

He scored both goals to dump them out of the Championship play-offs at the Amex in 2013 and was on target again twice in the Seagulls' 3-2 defeat at Selhurst Park last season (below).

The Argus: Albion marksman Murray, who knows Zaha well from their time together at Palace, is not surprised he has developed into such a key player.

Murray told The Argus: "He was just a phenomenal talent from a very early age.

"It needed to be coached a little bit - Dougie Freeman helped him with that - and then now we are seeing the player I always believed he would become.

"You don't get a move to Manchester United from the Championship for no reason.

"That didn't work out for him but he is an exceptional footballer.

"He was doing things in games and training that made you realise this kid has got something special."

Murray reckons Zaha was a victim of circumstances at Old Trafford.

The veteran striker said: "I think he can definitely go again to a top six club and I also think in the right circumstances it would have worked out for him at Old Trafford.

"United signed him, loaned him back for six months and in the meantime Fergie left.

"I believe under Fergie's guidance he could have been magical."

Zaha can play on the left or right and has also been used through the middle by Palace.

Albion's 38-year-old right-back and captain Bruno is fit after going off in Saturday's 2-1 win at ten-man Huddersfield.

Manager Chris Hughton also has Bruno's fellow Spaniard, Martin Montoya, while at left-back young Brazilian Bernardo has taken over from Gaetan Bong in the last two games.

How do Albion stop Zaha? Murray joked: "That isn't my problem! I've tried that in training a few times.

"It's difficult. I just hope I don't get caught one on one with him.

"You can stop the ball getting to him and when he does get it try your best not to dive in on one of his tricks and let him glide past.

"And possibly even double up on him if he is having one of those nights he is capable of."

Palace have not won a match in the Premier League without Zaha since beating Sunderland 3-2 away in September 2016.

Murray, on target against them in the Premier League and the FA Cup last season, has also been key for Albion since rejoining the club from Bournemouth.

The centre-forward was rested to the bench at Huddersfield.

He is expected to return to the starting line-up this evening to make the 100th appearance of his second spell.

The Argus: Murray (above) has scored 44 goals in his last 99 games - 33 of them at the Amex - and seven of their 16 in the Premier League this season.

He said: "I don't feel as though it is a responsibility. That is just a scenario at the moment.

"I doubt very much that it will end up like that.

"But, every time I enter the field of play I want to score goals, so that brings its own pressures on myself.

"But as far as goals and games and the amount of goals, that doesn't matter as long as I am there to score, week in week out."

* The Argus spoke to Glenn Murray at an American Express event.

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