Former referees director Keith Hackett says Crystal Palace attacker Wilfried Zaha deserves greater protection.

Hackett wrote for the Irish Independent: "It is now becoming clear that Wilfried Zaha is a marked man whenever he plays - so referees have to respond.

"This is not a case of applying one set of rules for one player and a different set to everyone else. It is simply officials being sensitive to the situation, and being aware that a player like Zaha - who is clearly so crucial to Crystal Palace - is likely to be coming in for some rough treatment.

"As it is, Zaha is at serious risk of being badly injured. The incident at Watford last month when his Achilles was raked by Etienne Capoue was a shocking challenge and one that could have seriously endangered his career. It should have been a straight red card.

"On Saturday, he was the subject of another act of brutality, this time from Huddersfield's Mathias Jorgensen, whose cynical late challenge had nothing to do with football. It was an act purely designed to stop Zaha's run and put him at risk of injury. He should have been sent off."