The data expert with an astrophysics degree and sporting director on Man United's radar - as Gareth Southgate picks FOUR of their stars, here are the secrets of the Crystal Palace talent factory

If Gareth Southgate had his way he’d have named five Crystal Palace players in his provisional England squad for Euro 2024 on Tuesday.

'He is obviously a very good player,’ explained Southgate when asked about whether he has thought about trying to persuade Michael Olise, born in Hammersmith, to switch international allegiances from France to England.

‘He is a player we should have an interest in because he is a very good player.’

Blooded in the EFL but honed at Selhurst Park, Olise is, arguably, the crown prince of a talent factory fast becoming the envy of English football.

In fairness, there’s stiff competition for that particular accolade - a fact underlined yesterday by Southgate’s decision to select no less than four Palace players in his 33-man party ahead of the European Championships.

Adam Wharton was handed his first call-up, while Eberechi Eze and Dean Henderson were recalled alongside regular Marc Guehi.

‘More than anything I’m pleased for the boys because they are brilliant lads,’ Palace co-owner Steve Parish told Mail Sport.

‘If you look through our history we’ve rarely had players in the England squad, let alone four at one time.

‘It’s amazing for the club and amazing for the fans. It’s a brilliant achievement for everyone who has played a part in their development, not just us at Palace.

‘It shows the world that there is a platform for players to achieve their dreams with Crystal Palace.'

Oliver Glasner’s impact on the team since his arrival in February has seen the team flourish, the intensity of his training sessions cited as one of the key improvements made since Roy Hodgson departed following a health scare.

The squad have also benefitted from Glasner’s powers of communication. His instructions are clear and concise - although unsurprisingly ‘getting the ball to Olise and Eze’ is often the end goal.

A run of six wins from seven have propelled Eze and Co into Euros contention.

Palace appear to be on the cusp of something special; a team bursting with once untapped talent but now relentless in their desire to show the world what they are about.

So it begs the question, what are the secrets behind Palace’s unquestionable knack of spotting gems other clubs aren’t?

Rarely in view of the public, the club’s sporting director Dougie Freedman shuns the limelight.

Unfortunately for the Scot keeping a low profile is becoming increasingly difficult these days.

The work he and his relatively small recruitment team have completed in assembling a competitive Premier League team, whilst working to a relatively tight budget, is not going unnoticed.

It’s no wonder Manchester United and Newcastle have designs on luring Freedman away.

In the fullness of time, Freedman will have a decision to make if his career trajectory continues.

In the long-term he may decide a new challenge is what he requires. But right now, Palace look like a team ready to explode.

Indeed, it would be entirely understandable if Freedman found it difficult to walk away from a team his fingers prints are all over.

With the help of trusted data experts James Simpson, who has a first class masters degree in physics with astrophysics, and player analyst Bobby Shojai, Freedman has revolutionised the club’s recruitment operations.

‘Finding the talent is one thing, but the next thing is executing the deal and getting the players to come to the club,’ explained Parish.

‘In terms of our recruitment we are getting more right than wrong. The whole club has a sense of shared purpose and that shines through in terms of our recruitment because there are lots of people instrumental in that process.’

Like most clubs, Palace have discovered major benefits in player statistical analytics.

At Palace, the data is generally used as a reference point with a view narrowing down potential targets.

But old-fashioned scouting continues to play an integral part of the way the club decide on which players to pursue.

For instance, Guehi, Olise, Eze and Wharton - who many at Palace believe will be the best discovery of the lot - where all watched at least a dozen times by either Freedman or a member of his team.

That’s not to say Freedman’s inherent ability to spot a player is merely restricted to his knowledge of the Championship.

Chris Richards was plucked from Bayern Munich reserves, Cheick Doucoure from Lens, Jean-Philippe Mateta from Mainz and Daniel Munoz from Genk.

Vicente Guaita was signed on a free from Celta Vigo, as was fellow keeper Sam Johnstone, who would have been named in Southgate’s squad yesterday if not for injury, from West Brom.

Yet, even if Palace are convinced of a footballer’s ability, it doesn’t necessarily mean he’d be one they would look to sign.

First a player must pass a lengthy and stringent checklist before Palace decide to make their move.

Ensuring a player has the right personality and character features heavily on that checklist.

If there is any sense a player isn’t the right fit of may disrupt the dressing room it is unlikely Palace would engage.

For example, footage recently of Jude Bellingham and Vinicius Jnr purposefully avoiding walking over the Manchester City crest would have seen the Real Madrid pair score highly on Palace’s test.

But above all else, the player in view has to fit into the team’s game model. Palace purposefully avoid targeting players merely because they have just come off a purple patch.

For instance, one of the reasons they forked out an initial £18million to Blackburn for Wharton in January was because they’d identified a deficiency in getting Eze and Olise on the ball enough in the right areas.

Wharton’s range of passing - and more importantly his ability to locate Olise and Eze more often - was the key reasons behind Palace’s move.

The fact Palace discovered after Wharton signed that Bayern Munich had been on his case accentuates the strength of feeling at that they have unearthed another diamond.

Ultimately, Palace sign players to bring the best out in the team, not for the team to bring the best out in player.

And it has worked an absolutely treat so far.

‘You used to accuse me of favouritism now you’ll be accusing me of nepotism,’ joked Southgate, who played 191 games for Palace.

No-one who has seen Palace’s Fab Four play will be accusing you of that, Gareth.