Crystal Palace is gearing up for their upcoming clash against Aston Villa, but the team's manager, Oliver Glasner, has confirmed they will be without key players Eberechi Eze and Eddie Nketiah due to injuries. This news could complicate the Eagles' plans as they search for their much-needed victory to climb out of the relegation zone.
Eberechi Eze, born and raised in Greenwich, has been sidelined since picking up a hamstring injury during the 2-1 Carabao Cup win over Villa on October 30. Despite his eagerness to play, Glasner made the tough call to leave Eze behind for the trip to Villa Park. "Ebs would like to be involved in tomorrow’s game, but I took the decision not to take him with us because it’s too risky," Glasner explained.
This injury news will likely hinder their offensive strategy, especially since Eze had been showing great form before his injury, scoring the opener against Villa before being forced off the pitch. The manager has taken his decision seriously, emphasizing the importance of protecting players: "When we see the schedule after the Villa game, which consists of eight games in December, we can’t take any risks," he noted. He stressed the need to look after the players for the long haul rather than focusing solely on immediate games.
Meanwhile, Eddie Nketiah, another dynamic offensive talent for the Eagles, continues to recover from his own hamstring issue. He remains unavailable for this important fixture, which adds to Palace's woes as they strive to turn their season around.
On the bright side, there are some positive updates for Crystal Palace. Jefferson Lerma, who missed the last two games with his own hamstring injury, is returning and set to feature against Villa. Similarly, Cheick Doucoure proved his fitness by completing 60 minutes during a behind-closed-doors friendly during the international break, and is ready to start. Will Hughes, who was suspended for the team’s last outing against Fulham due to yellow card accumulation, is also back available for selection.
Despite the challenges with injuries, Glasner remains optimistic about his team’s potential. Crystal Palace's difficult start to the league has left them at the bottom of the table with just one league victory, making every upcoming match more pivotal.
Overall, the injury report heading to Villa paints both cautious optimism and urgent need for performance improvement as the season progresses. The return of some key players might yet give Palace the boost they need to secure points and begin climbing the ranks.
