Inside Crystal Palace’s training: Five things we spotted before Burnley match - with Guaita’s return

Patrick Vieira has urged his Crystal Palace side to build on their impressive win against Watford by beating visiting Burnley on Saturday.

Everything that had been missing throughout the season clicked for the Eagles at Vicarage Road.

Wilfried Zaha, often frustrating this season, got a brace, Jean-Philippe Mateta, who had not scored in the league, suddenly found his scoring boots and fired in the opener, while Conor Gallagher scored again.

The win was the first in the league this year, and the lift it gave the team was visible to see as they prepare to host an in-form Burnley side.

LondonWorld brings you the inside story for Crystal Palace’s training at their Beckenham base ahead of the weekend’s Premier League clash.

Vicente Guaita return to boost Crystal Palace

The reliable goalkeeper had to be replaced in the defeat to Chelsea, and was not included in the Watford match as a precaution .

There had been reports that the Spanish goalkeeper would be out for around two weeks, but he returned to training on Thursday and Vieira confirmed he would be available for selection.

The Palace boss said: “The only two people that will be missing the game will be Nathan and Ward and the rest are fit and can play when selected.”

His return will be a massive boost to Palace who will all but seal Premier League status for next season if they can get all three points.

Eze and Olise continue to form a strong bond

Whenever you see Eberechi Eze at Crystal Palace’s Beckenham training base, you are sure that Michael Olise is not too far away.

The duo are almost always together from the minute they arrive until when they go home, and are only separated by different specialist drills.

They always have lunch together, and stay behind to consistently practice set pieces when most other players have left.

Every player has a different warm down routine, and some have to rush to get their kids from school, but the fact that the two promising players in the team are forming such a bond is a delight for Vieira.

Patrick Vieira continues to take part in training

Even though Patrick Vieira retired more than a decade ago, the Arsenal legend is still fit enough to get involved with training, and he takes part when he wants to demonstrate something to his players.

There are people at the Crystal Palace training ground who believe the manager could still do a job in the Premier League.

His touch, guile and positioning is still super sharp, and the fact that he is trying to demonstrate stuff by being involved in training is something that most players have embraced.

Jordan Ayew did extra fitness work after training

Jordan Ayew, who got an assist against Watford, spent an extra hour in the gym after normal training, which is out of his routine.

The Ghanaian has just one goal and two assists this season, but continues to have the backing of his manager due to his incredible work rate.

Ayew, now in his 30s, seems to be looking after his cardio, and has started putting in more effort to maintain it.

He was working in the gym late when the team finished training on Thursday.

Wilfried Zaha’s sharp finishing

Zaha’s two goals against Watford takes his tally for the season to eight, and earlier in the week the club put a short video of him finishing well in training ahead of the game against Watford.

There is a feeling within the technical team that since his return from the AFCON, the Ivorian has been determined to put in the work for manager Patrick Vieira and that includes contributing more goals.

He is finishing better in training, and on Thursday he was the highest scorer in training.

Vieira is keen for Zaha to cut in from the left and finish whenever there is an opening, and perhaps that is why he is taking more shots and looking happier than before he went to Cameroon.