Crystal Palace’s search for a second Premier League win of the season will continue this weekend against Newcastle.
The Eagles will take on an up-and-down Eddie Howe side and for Oliver Glasner, there will be a quiet confidence in his team’s chances after an encouraging few weeks.
Despite actually dropping down a place, Crystal Palace have been playing well and have lost just one game in five across all competitions.
Due to this, the feeling around the club is confidence, with Glasner remaining convinced things will come good for his side.
This feeling is reciprocated by data which shows that in terms of expected points, the Eagles are 15th in the table. Now, Glasner could be about to add the finishing touches to his team needed to get the win.
Eberechi Eze of Crystal Palace runs with the ball whilst under pressure from James Maddison of Tottenham Hotspur during the Premier League match be...
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Oliver Glasner on Eberechi Eze and Eddie Nketiah
On Friday, Glasner sat down with the press to discuss the progress of the substantial Crystal Palace injury list which currently sits at five names long.
Adam Wharton
Chadi Riad
Eberechi Eze
Eddie Nketiah
Matheus Franca
However, speaking to club media, Glasner has indicated that this list will be cut by 40 per cent this weekend against Newcastle.
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“The draw at Villa gave us confidence, and we had a really good week in training.
“Players are coming back, players have had one more week of training after returning from injuries, so it was very positive.
“Ebere [Eze] will be in the squad tomorrow, and Eddie Nketiah as well. They worked pretty hard in their rehab, and also the medical staff did an amazing job, so that’s why they are available earlier than expected.
“Both had a good week. But it’s the same with other players, like Cheick Doucouré who returned last week, they are out for several weeks but it’s good when we enter a three-game week that players are back, so now we have a better situation in the squad.”
So by the sounds of things, Glasner will have his attacking options back at near full capacity this week, with Eze in particular a welcome return.
READ MORE: Get to know Eberechi Eze, the versatile Crystal Palace and England star
Glasner on Crystal Palace rotation
The next few weeks will be non-stop for Crystal Palace with games coming thick and fast, as Glasner has now spoken about the need for rotation and players being in form.
“It gives us more possibilities – tomorrow, then it will be the same three days later at Ipswich, and then we play City, so it’s a very intense week,” he explained.
“We speak about high intensity, but Newcastle, Ipswich and us are the three teams playing with the highest intensity in the last weeks, and that is what I expect from those games.”
Continuing, Glasner has explained the need for minutes to get Eze and Nketiah back match sharp and ready.
“We need all the players on the top level. I know Ebere can’t play all three games over 90 minutes, so it’s good that he is back, and the same with Eddie. We have to manage the minutes they get, but it’s good just to have the opportunity when you need it.
“It looks like in every game it’s very similar, that the games get decided in the last 15 or 20 minutes – in the crunch time – and therefore it’s good to have players available.
“Overall the situation is a bit better, but again you can’t be on the top level if you are out for several weeks. I don’t know any player who comes back and is straight on the same level as he was before.
“They need the training time, they need the game time, to get back to their top level.”
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