Gareth Southgate: 'I want Wilfried Zaha to keep playing for England'

England manager Gareth Southgate has pledged to try to persuade Crystal Palace winger Wilfried Zaha not to switch allegiance to the Ivory Coast.

The 24-year-old, capped twice by the Three Lions, has asked FIFA to allow him to play for the Ivory Coast, the country of his birth, in the Africa Cup of Nations next year.

"We're still hopeful that we can speak to Wilf," Southgate said of Zaha, who can change allegiance because both of his England caps came in friendlies.

"He's certainly somebody that I think has talent, is in a good moment with his club and ideally I'd like to talk to him before he makes that decision.

"I would like to speak with him before we make a decision on whether we are happy to let that happen."

Zaha's two England caps came against Sweden and Scotland in November 2012 and August 2013 respectively.