Eddie Nketiah was a topic of conversation for Oliver Glasner in his press conference ahead of the UEFA Conference League clash between Crystal Palace and AEK Larnaca.
The Crystal Palace No.9 is yet to start in any competition this season due to a combination of injuries and the presence of Jean-Philippe Mateta, but has impressed off the bench with important goals against Dynamo Kyiv and Liverpool.
During his press conference, Oliver Glasner admitted he “definitely” sees Eddie Nketiah as an option for the right-sided No.10 role when Ismaila Sarr heads off to the Africa Cup of Nations in December, although we strongly disagree.
Eddie Nketiah experiment has already failed
After his £25m move from Arsenal in August 2024, the England international was initially used in the No.10 role vacated by Michael Olise on the right flank, struggling to impress before Sarr then made it his own.
Tony Cascarino questioned why Nketiah was being deployed on the right – a decision which also surprised Danny Murphy – and Glasner later gave up on the tactic as his Crystal Palace side embarked on a dismal run of eight league games without a win at the start of last season.
Eddie Nketiah looks on before a Premier League clash between Crystal Palace and Leicester
Photo by Sebastian Frej/MB Media/Getty Images
The 26-year-old looks far more comfortable playing closer to Mateta, and he has already told his manager exactly that.
Eddie Nketiah made his thoughts clear on new position in September 2024 after 2-2 draw against Leicester City
Some fans may recall the striker’s debut, a 2-2 draw against Leicester City back in September 2024.
Goals from Jamie Vardy and Stephy Mavididi put the Foxes 2-0 up, before a double from Mateta snatched a point, but only after Glasner pushed players forward in search of a result.
This desperation saw Nketiah spend the final period of that match playing right up next to the France international in a 4-4-2 shape, instead of behind and to the right of him in the 3-4-2-1 system we typically use.
Nketiah enjoyed himself in that shape, telling the official CPFC website: “Towards the end, when we went 4-4-2, I kind of went just off him (Mateta) in the ten (role). It was good, and I think we looked really dangerous at the end, so hopefully we can grow on it.”
In that respect, Glasner should consider tweaking his attack to a 3-4-1-2 when Sarr goes to AFCON this winter, instead of simply putting Nketiah on the right in a like-for-like switch.