Oliver Glasner to solve massive Crystal Palace issue with duo's return in latest boost ahead of Newcastle

Oliver Glasner will have both Eddie Nketiah and Eberechi Eze available for Crystal Palace’s Premier League game this weekend against Newcastle. The Eagles' manager played it safe with Eze last weekend as he left him out of the 2-2 draw with Aston Villa. Glasnger revealed the England midfielder was eager to return, but it was his decision to leave him out.

Another week of training has ensured that Eze is now fully fit and ready to add the creative spark the team has missed since his injury. When Eze plays well, the whole team tends to play well, and his return comes at a crucial time, as Palace need all three points against a Newcastle side that has shown vulnerability, especially after losing at home to West Ham on Monday night. Speaking ahead of the game, Glasner confirmed the double boost: “Eze will be in the squad, and Eddie Nketiah will also be available.”

Eze’s brilliance has been well documented in recent seasons, with his dazzling performances attracting a growing list of admirers. Most recently, it has been suggested that Juventus could look to prise the player away from the Eagles with ex-Aston Villa midfielder Douglas Luiz thrown in as an attract makeweight.

The return of Nketiah is also pivotal, as the former Arsenal striker is still waiting to score his first league goal for the club, despite Palace having spent around £30 million on him in the summer. While there’s no guarantee that his return will bring goals, it will certainly offer more options, and be a real blessing to the Eagles who’ve been enduring somewhat of an injury crisis of late.

Nketiah’s style of play is different from Jean-Philippe Mateta’s. The latter is a more traditional, direct number nine, whereas Nketiah can also play out wide, using his pace to hurt teams. These options vastly improve the Eagles' chances of winning, especially at a time when they are at risk of relegation with every passing weekend.

One of the key challenges Palace have faced this season has been keeping key players fit. Injuries have taken a heavy toll on their performance, and with Michael Olise leaving in the summer, they would have hoped to at least have Eze available. The return of both players this weekend - in a game set to be refereed by Darren England - will provide a massive lift as Palace look to get their season back on track.