With the top of the table clash between visitors Manchester City and hosts Crystal Palace prepares to get under way this Saturday, we bring you the team news from both camps
Crystal Palace have surprised everyone with their strong performances in the first four games. Their efforts have seen them claim second place in the league table, with victories over Norwich City, Aston Villa and most importantly, Chelsea FC at Stamford Bridge.
Ahead of them however, lie their opposition Manchester City, who look primed to continue their dominant run in the Premier League. The Citizens are the bookmakers favourites to win, but Alan Pardew’s Eagles have bested Chelsea before the international break, and are on a good run of form leading up to the top of the table clash.
Crystal Palace Team News
Alan Pardew is likely to make minor tweaks when his side host league leader Manchester City. The former Newcastle United boss bested Jose Mourinho once again in Palace’s last league game before the international, condemning Chelsea to their second defeat in three games in the process, and giving the Eagles precious momentum heading into the City game.
With Mile Jedinak and Frazier Campbell still injured, Pardew was given another blow as right-back Joel Ward suffered a knee injury, side-lining him up for four weeks. Former Liverpool defender Martin Kelly is likely to take his place.
Alan Pardew has confirmed that Yohan Cabaye could face Manchester City on Saturday, but Joel Ward will be sidelined for up to four weeks with a knee injury. Cabaye, 29, came off injured during France’s friendly against Portugal last week, but Pardew says the A?10 million summer signing from Paris Saint-Germain will be available to face City at Selhurst Park on Saturday.
“Yohan came off as a precaution, he’s had problems with his groin and he felt a little bit in the scar tissue,” said Pardew in his pre-match press conference. “He did the sensible thing in coming off and he has trained today [Thursday], and he was magnificent.”
.
Manchester City News
In his pre-match press conference, Manuel Pellegrini confirmed that he had lost both David Silva and Fabian Delph to injury during the international break.
Manchester City’s Spanish talisman David Silva suffered a minor ankle injury against Macedonia on Tuesday. The injury was serious enough for Pellegrini to confirm his unavailability for Saturday’s clash, and possibly Tuesday’s Champions League match against Juventus.
Samir Nasri is likely to take his spot in the starting 11 while new acquisition Kevin De Bruyne might start from the bench due to his lack of training time with the squad.
Fabian Delph re-injured his left hamstring during England’s win over Switzerland. There were doubts raised as to whether Delph was rushed back into the first team by Pellegrini, resulting in an incomplete recovery and a subsequent relapse of his hamstring problem.
The Argentine manager was quick to refute such claims, citing that Delph had had full training sessions with the first team, prior to his training with the Three Lions. “It was very unlucky for him to have the injury but bad things happen,” Pellegrini is quoted as saying in his press conference by the Mail Online. “I think [he will be out for] at least one month and a half.”
Full-back Gael Clichy will undergo ankle surgery, with a recovery period slated at 5 weeks. Meanwhile, right-back Bacary Sagna has been cleared to play by Pellegrini despite the Frenchman coming off with a knock during France’s 2-1 victory of Serbia.