Crystal Palace manager Oliver Glasner has delivered a significant boost ahead of the club’s Premier League showdown with Fulham, confirming that Eberechi Eze is fit to start.
The Eagles head to Craven Cottage on Saturday looking to bounce back after a disappointing 2-1 defeat to Everton.
While their home form has been underwhelming, Palace have thrived on the road, remaining unbeaten in away fixtures since October and keeping four consecutive clean sheets.
Eze has been a key figure in this impressive away run, despite dealing with a lingering injury. The attacking midfielder was only fit enough for the bench in Palace’s last two league games and missed their FA Cup fourth-round win at Doncaster Rovers.
However, Glasner reassured fans that the England international is now ready to return to the starting lineup.
“It was a good week for him personally, and he’s getting better and better with his foot,” Glasner said in his pre-match press conference. “I think he’s ready to start. The same as last week all players are fit, everyone trained the whole week. It’s good.”
Palace will face a tough challenge against a Fulham side sitting eighth in the table and pushing for European qualification.
Given their form, Glasner was asked whether Chelsea loanee Ben Chilwell could make his first start for Palace, particularly after first-choice left-back Tyrick Mitchell struggled against Everton.
“I think 90 to 95 percent of the decisions we take are based on how our players are performing and what we expect from them,” Glasner explained.
“In one or two cases, we might make adjustments for tactical reasons like set-pieces but both Tyrick Mitchell and Ben Chilwell have the quality to defend Adama Traoré.”
The Palace boss emphasized that stopping Fulham will require a collective defensive effort, highlighting the threats posed by Raul Jimenez and Emile Smith Rowe in addition to Traoré.
With Eze back in the starting XI and a fully fit squad, Palace will be hoping to continue their away dominance and secure a vital three points.