After a superb end to the 2023/24 season, where they won six of their last seven games, Crystal Palaces start to the 2024/25 season has been extremely underwhelming.
Oliver Glasners side sit 19th having picked up just one win in 12 games, as well as drawing five.
Their latest outing will give some hope to Palace fans, as they drew 2-2 with Aston Villa, a game where they were again missing star player Eberechi Eze, as Premier League injuries begin to accumulate.
Is Eberechi Eze injured this weekend?
Eze was superb for Palace last season, contributing to 15 goals in 24 starts across the league season, but has not hit those heights this season, scoring just once.
Palace have been without Eze since a 2-1 win in late October over Aston Villa in the Carabao Cup last 16, and prior to their league game against Villa, Glasner gave an update on the English forward.
He said: I took the decision not to take him with us to Villa. Its a little bit too risky. He trained during the week, but its too near when [the injury] happened.
We have to protect the players. When we see our schedule after the Villa game, with eight games in December, we cant take any risks.
He feels hes ready, and its him who wants to play. I want him to play but we have to protect him.
We have 15 games in December and January, and we need him for 15 games, not just one.
Glasner clearly understands Ezes importance to his side, and his comments suggest that the attacker will play a part in Saturdays game against Newcastle when the Premier League returns.
However, it remains unclear whether Eze will start or merely make an appearance off the bench.
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