BY ANDREW MCSTEEN
Crystal Palace manager Oliver Glasner has told the South London Press that club captain Joel Ward remains a vital part of his matchday squad despite the 35-year-old not featuring in the Premier League so far this season.
Ward signed for the Eagles in May 2012 and has gone on to make 304 Premier League appearances for the South London outfit, including a number at the end of last season when Glasner joined the club in February.
“Wardy is a fantastic guy. Everyone, every manager, wishes to have such a guy, not just a player – he’s a great player, the most appearances in the Premier League for Crystal Palace more than 300 – but he’s an outstanding, good and positive character,” said the Austrian coach.
“Yes, he didn’t get the minutes this year due to the circumstances that the players in his position are doing really well, the wing-backs – Daniel Munoz is in outstanding shape at the moment. Then, after having a lot of changes at the beginning of the season, due to late arrivals, injuries and giving the new players some more minutes together so they get to know each other, but he’s never complaining, always working hard and always positive.”
This season, Ward has made just a solitary appearance as a 79th substitute in the 4-0 EFL Cup win at home to Norwich, but has been named on the substitute bench for all but three times the entire season.
And Glasner was quick to praise the benefits the former Portsmouth player brings to his side off the pitch ahead of the rivalry clash against Brighton this Sunday.
“He’s so important in the dressing room [as well as] on the pitch,” explained Glasner. “He’s the guy before a game – even if he’s on the bench – who speaks the most in the locker room, encouraging the others, pushing the others. I have a lot of respect and appreciation for Wardy and I’m really happy that he’s in our squad.”
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