Crystal Palace manager Oliver Glasner has opted not to risk Eberechi Eze for Saturday’s Premier League clash against Aston Villa.
The 26-year-old has been sidelined with a hamstring injury since the Carabao Cup fourth round between the two sides last month – a match in which he scored – but there were hopes that he would be available for selection after the international break. .
However, despite returning to training this week, the decision was made for Eze not to travel to Villa Park, with the Eagles boss citing protection of the attacking midfielder ahead of a hectic run of games during the season. holidays.
“Ebs would like to be involved in tomorrow’s game, but I have made the decision not to take him with us to Villa,” Glasner told reporters.
“It’s a little too risky. He trained during the week, but it was too close when it happened. When you see our schedule, we have to protect our players.
“When you see our schedule after the Villa game, with eight games in December, we can’t take any risks, that’s why Ebs is not involved in tomorrow’s game.
“We had a long conversation today because he is very ambitious. He is a great guy, he worked very hard and he wanted to be with us. He feels ready and he is the one who wants to play.
“Of course I want him to play. But like I mentioned, we have to protect him.
“That’s why we said, ‘OK, yes, we’re losing [him] for one match, but we win eight or nine days. And maybe then we will win eight games, and we all hope to win at the Emirates in Carabao [Cup].
“Then we have 15 games in December and January, and we need him for 15 games, not just one.”
As well as Eze, Eddie Nketiah and Matheus Franca will also be absent against Villa, as will Daichi Kamada as he begins a three-match ban after being sent off in the 2-0 home defeat to Fulham last time out.
There is, however, some good news to report.
Will Hughes, Chris Richards and Jefferson Lerma are all available for selection again and Cheick Doucouré is set to make only his second Premier League start of the season.
“It’s very good for us of course, and we hope that Adam [Wharton] comes back, maybe not for the Newcastle game, but in the next week or two, because we need him,” added Glasner.
“We need the quality of these players, the passing, but it’s the same with Cheick. I think if he starts it would be the second start in a year, so I don’t expect miracles from his part, but it’s good to see him back on the field, with more confidence in his body.
“He’s a fantastic footballer, we saw that from day one, but when you are, I think he [was] injured at the beginning of November last year, he trained six to eight weeks in 12 months, so it’s to get back to his best form, that’s what we will support him [with]but it’s good to have him back.
“He talks a lot, he’s a senior player. The younger generations are often very introverted, and he’s one on the pitch, he talks to others, organizes things, pushes the players, and that of course helps us.”