Crystal Palace will step out at Selhurst Park with key absentees. Yet they will still chase momentum.
And they will push to start the New Year in winning style.Oliver Glasner confirmed that Chris Richards and Eddie Nketiah will miss the Fulham game.
The setback arrives at a busy stage. But Palace will adjust. They will shuffle the pack. And they will compete.
Richards remains sidelined after the late injury he picked up against Arsenal in the Carabao Cup.
His recovery has stalled. His foot remains too painful. And he cannot wear a boot.
“Chris is not back, and for Newcastle it will be quite tight,” said Glasner.
“His foot is too swollen, so he can’t wear a boot right now – it’s too painful.”
There was more concern. Nketiah will also sit out. He has started the last three league matches.
However, the medical team wants caution.
“Eddie is out for this game, so let’s see for the next game. We don’t know exactly how long it will take – we’ll have to take it game by game.
“It’s a little bit his muscle, but we don’t know right now how serious it is. Of course, he’s had a few issues this year, and that’s why we are quite cautious.”
He added: “All the others are fine – nobody else is out, but also nobody came back.
“We’re concentrating on the team that is available that will give everything to win tomorrow against Fulham.
“It feels like a rematch – four weeks ago we played them away, and they have a few players at the AFCON, so it’s a little bit a different team. We have a few players who are missing too.”
He continued: “I know the players who are available for tomorrow. We have a few Academy players being involved in this game, and we’ll prepare in the best way.
“Of course we want to get the turnaround at home, and start the New Year with a win.”
So the scene is set. The stakes are clear. Crystal Palace face Fulham short-handed.
However, they carry belief into Selhurst Park. And they aim to launch the year with a statement victory.
Toosin is a dedicated sports writer with a strong background in crafting engaging and insightful content. With experience at Goal, he has developed a sharp editorial sense and a refined storytelling approach that brings depth and perspective to sports journalism. His passion for the game goes beyond the headlines, as he captures both the excitement of the sport and the compelling human narratives behind each event. Toosin’s work resonates with a broad and diverse audience, making global sports stories accessible, relatable, and impactful.
