Saints sensation Eljero Elia and former St Mary’s star Jason Puncheon will fight out a rare battle of the wingers when Crystal Palace come calling for an FA Cup fourth round tie on Saturday.

Elia has had an instant impact since joining Saints on a season long loan from Werder Bremen at the start of January, scoring both goals in the win over Newcastle last weekend.

That was after the player had only managed to score four goals in the previous four years, and after going through a 29-game drought stretching back to November 2013.

Ex-Saint Puncheon has been achieving similar results since former Saints manager Alan Pardew took over at Palace, scoring in consecutive games.

Not many sides are playing with genuine wingers these days, but Ronald Koeman very much has a typical Dutch philosophy when it comes to that and likes to utilise pace out wide.

Palace, meanwhile, have Puncheon and Wilfried Zaha currently available to provide similar options.

During his time at Saints, Puncheon was mainly used out on the right but encouraged to cut inside, with Adam Lallana doing the same from the left wing.

Without blistering pace, it was felt that he was unlikely to get round the back and in behind teams.

That is not the same with Elia, who should make his FA Cup debut this weekend having been ineligible for the third round.

The Dutch international has been given relative freedom and has the speed to outrun most defenders.

Until this season’s recruitment of Sadio Mane and Elia, Saints have not really played genuine wingers on a regular basis for some time.

Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain did fit that bill before his departure for Arsenal, but that was three and a half years ago.

Before that, Michail Antonio and Papa Waigo were probably the last out and out wide men to hold down regular places in the team, and that was under Pardew, with the pair both scoring in the JPT final at Wembley during loan spells in 2009/10.

The other pacy player of recent times, signed by Nigel Adkins, was Jonathan Forte, but he made just five starts in three and a half years at the club.

Steve de Ridder was also signed to provide width but after two years of struggling for a regular place in the team had his contract cancelled by mutual consent in 2013.

Pardew has admitted that Puncheon – who has scored in both of Palace’s recent league wins against Tottenham and Burnley – is very much a changed player since he signed him from Plymouth five years ago this month.

“When I had Jason Puncheon at Southampton he wasn’t the player he is today,” said Pardew.

“Because he has played in the Premier League he has that inner confidence he can play at this level.”

Puncheon played a big part in Palace staying in the top flight last season, scoring the only goal in wins against Hull, Stoke and Aston Villa.

He also netted twice in a 3-0 win at Cardiff as part of a total seasonal league haul of seven goals.

Elia and Puncheon could come head-to-head if they start in the same positions as last weekend.

However, a key moment in Palace’s 3-2 comeback win over Burnley was Pardew switching Puncheon and Zaha to opposite wings.

Zaha, a former Palace team-mate of Saints pair Nathaniel Clyne and Jose Fonte, has found things tough since his big move to Manchester United.

He has struggled to get a regular starting place during his loan spell back at Palace, but Pardew has come in and is trying to get the best out of him.

“He’s an important player,” reckoned Pardew.

“In terms of finding himself at perhaps the biggest club in the world bar one or two, and not getting an opportunity and having to come back to his former club - that’s difficult.

“Mentally, I think that’s difficult for a young player.

“So I feel sorry for him, a little bit.

“And I’ll do my best to raise his profile and spirit for us, and for Manchester United because I’m sure they’ve got one eye on him hopefully still to be a success for them.”