Former Premier League striker Darren Bent has questioned Marco Silva’s decision to start Moise Kean on the bench at Crystal Palace, as told to Football Insider.
Bent, who played top-flight football for Sunderland and Aston Villa during an 18-year professional career, feels it would have been far easier for the Italian to make an instant impact for the Blues, had he been given a role in the starting line-up over Dominic Calvert-Lewin.
Silva also held back on introducing Jean-Philippe Gbamin from kick-off, while Fabian Delph was ruled out through injury and Djibril Sidibe was not named in the matchday squad to face the Eagles on day one of the new season.
Calvert-Lewin, unfortunately, continued where he left off last season and failed to find the back of the net on Saturday, as we were held to a goalless draw at Selhurst Park despite Kean making his debut midway through the second half.
Bent has now shared his surprise in Silva’s decision not to start Kean.
“Looking at their starting XI, none of their new signings started,” the former England international said. “That surprised me, [having the] same back four, midfield and Calvert-Lewin upfront.
“They’re making these statement signings, and then they play the same team, I expected more. With Moise Kean, me being a striker, whenever I moved to a new club I needed to be playing from day one. If I started from day one, [the] more chance of scoring and finding my feet.
“I’ve never really been a fan of these guys that get moved then they don’t start. You need every advantage.”