Patrick Vieira confirms huge injury boost to Crystal Palace squad with just four games to end the season

Crystal Palace could be the team that relegates Roy Hodgson’s Watford, with both sides heading in different directions at the moment.

When Patrick Vieira took over at Palace in the summer, a few hairs were raised and many questioned if he had it in him to continue the good work Roy had done in south London.

But with his first season almost over, it’s fair to say the answer has been an affirmative yes.

There is still a slim chance that Palace could yet equal their all-time Premier League tally of 49 points, but that will mean they will have to go on a winning run starting from Watford this weekend.

Watford are on a run of five consecutive defeats, and the defeat to Burnley will particularly hurt as they had been leading the game up until the 80th minute before conceding two quick goals.

For Palace, the win against Southampton preceded a frustrating draw to Leeds at home, but they are now on 41 points and Vieira has almost every one fit for the final run in.

The manager confirmed all but Nathan Ferguson have trained, and it was the sort of headache all managers would like to have.

The Crystal Palace manager said: “The target is to try and get him to train with the team and maybe get him ready for pre-season.”

Palace have three clean sheets from their last three home games, they have never had four in a row in the Premier League and they will hope that they make that a record.

There is still a chance to finish in the top half and with games against Watford, Everton and Aston Villa.