Oliver Glasner believes he has more than enough players in his Crystal Palace squad to handle the unprecedented fixture congestion at Selhurst Park.
Palace’s first European campaign has resulted in a demanding schedule for the FA Cup holders, who are competing in four competitions this season.
The Eagles face AEK Larnaca on Thursday in their first home fixture in the main phase of European competition, as they enter a period of four games in nine days.
Glasner Vows to Name Strong Side v AEK Larnaca
Oliver Glasner
Palace's previous run of playing every three days caught up with them at Everton before the October international break as their 19-game unbeaten run came to an end, with the players visibly running on empty in the final 20 minutes.
Despite the Cypriot Cup holders providing the weakest test on paper in a run where Palace face Arsenal, Liverpool, Brentford, AZ Alkmaar and Brighton, Glasner has vowed to name a full-strength side.
“The Everton game was at the end of the three weeks, when we had many games, said Glasner. “Now we are at the beginning. We have many games coming up, but the players look fresh at the moment.
“Just doing something, making five subs so people are happy, no.
“We will pick the best team against Larnaca, like always. We had five days between Bournemouth and Larnaca.
"The internationals got two days off to recover, and we prepared yesterday and today – short sessions, but the players look really sharp. We will play the best team that makes sense for us, and then prepare for Arsenal.
“If we think the team needs it, then we will do it. If we think a player needs the rest, they will get it. If we think a player is fit, he will play.
“We have a big squad, we have 20 outfield players available tomorrow. We have Chadi Riad, who should be back training with us in the next two weeks and Borna Sosa, who is suspended, unavailable.
“The squad is enough. If we had 28, we would be talking about why these eight players are left out. It makes no sense. With an academy, we need to show our players a pathway. How can we do that if there are five senior players not called up for the squad? Injuries can happen, but we can deal with it – the group is big enough.
"If you change eight or nine positions at once, it doesn’t work, as you never train together. It is a Conference League game, we want to qualify straight for the last 16. Therefore, we have to be at our top level."
Justin Devenny Could be Handed Start vs AEK Larnaca
Justin Devenny in action for Northern Ireland
Left wing-back Borna Sosa started Crystal Palace’s Conference League opener against Dynamo Kyiv, as well as both legs of their qualifier against Fredrikstad.
However, Oliver Glasner will be without the Croatian for the clash with AEK Larnaca, after Sosa was sent off in the 76th minute against Dynamo Kyiv for a second yellow card.
Glasner faces a conundrum: whether to continue resting first-choice Tyrick Mitchell, as he has done throughout Palace’s previous Conference League fixtures, or hand him his first European start.
Sosa and Mitchell are the only natural left wing-backs in the squad, though jack-off-all-trades Justin Devenny starts there for Northern Ireland.
Although Devenny could be handed a start at wing-back on Thursday, Glasner admitted that the youngster’s versatility can be to his detriment.
“He did very well against Germany at left wing-back,” Glasner said of Devenny. “When you are a player like Justin, the positive part is he can play in many positions.
“He can play both sixes, both tens and the left wing-back position. That’s good to have in the squad. But sometimes the difference is, you are everywhere available, but you don't get the minutes.
“That's a little bit of the problem with him. But we know we can count on him wherever he plays. He gives 100% for the team and that's what I really appreciate.
“Everybody in the team appreciates his effort. That is why he got so many minutes in his first season. That's why he is always now one of the first or second choices to be brought on. He deserves it and everybody trusts him wherever he plays.
“I'm always considering him for these five positions. With his strengths, he's maybe more of an attacking left wing-back.
“When he plays in the ten, he is extremely hard-working, making a lot of runs. We have options. This is what we want and then depending on the game, depending on the score we decide who to play.”
Nketiah Pushing for First Crystal Palace Start This Season
Eddie Nketiah celebrates scoring for Crystal Palace in the FA Cup quarter final
Eddie Nketiah is pushing for his first start of the season after impressing off the bench since returning from a hamstring injury in mid-September.
The 26-year-old has scored twice in just 121 minutes of football this season, and his introduction against Bournemouth on Saturday revitalised Palace, helping earn a point when falling behind twice.
Eagles boss Oliver Glasner believes Nketiah now has a stronger understanding of his role and increased confidence in a Palace shirt.
“Last year, he put himself under a lot of pressure. He wanted the goals, assists and the chances a little bit too much.
“He had the chances, he missed them and it was a downward spiral. It’s then about getting him to stay calm, reassuring him that he will get the chances and the finishes.
“He’s working very hard in every single training and scoring many goals. Sometimes in the games, it didn't work for him and he put himself under more pressure.
“Scoring two goals against Wolves in the last week of the season, getting a break and even missing pre-season, maybe it helped him not to feel the pressure.
“He's a little bit more relaxed. This is what I see, he doesn't think now I have to come on and score a goal.
“He knows that if he does his job, it will work out. Sometimes you assist, sometimes you score.
“Even against Bournemouth, he didn’t get the assist or the goal, but everybody felt he made a huge contribution to get us back into the game.
“That’s important. Sometimes it’s not important that you are the one who scores the goal, but it's the energy you bring on the pitch, which helps us massively.”