Key Crystal Palace pre-season dates with Eagles set to return to training earlier than most rivals

Crystal Palace ended the season on high with a 1-0 win over Manchester United and signed off a largely successful first season under Patrick Vieira on a high.

The Eagles enjoyed more success than most people would have envisaged when Vieira took over, with a 12th-placed finish in the league and a Wembley FA Cup semi final.

The Eagles also kept five straight clean sheets at Selhurst Park in their last five games, the first time they have done that in recent history.

The challenge for Vieira is to now to go on and have a successful second season, and avoid the kind of drop off that Leeds and Marcelo Bielsa suffered in their second Premier League season.

There is also the success off the pitch with the signings of Conor Gallagher and Marc Guehi.

Both players arrived in South London with little acclaim but are now full England internationals.

All players have now left their Beckenham training base and are expected back on June 30 for the first day of pre-season.

Normally the first day is meant for time in the gym and getting ready for all the physical work that normally kicks off the season.

Another key date for the Eagles will be June 10 when the summer transfer window officially opens.

There is a hole in the middle of the team that has been created by the departure of Conor Gallagher, on loan from Chelsea, and it will be interesting to see how Vieira plugs it.

Modern day football has been dominated by decision making from the transfer hierarchy and Palace fans, having enjoyed every bit of Vieira’s first season, will be looking forward to taking it a step further next season.

There are a couple of players who will have big calls to make.

Christian Benteke has a year left on his deal and it will be interesting to see what he does next, while trusted midfielder Cheikhou Kouyaté is yet to sign a new deal.