da dobrowin： Crystal Palace will want to build on their momentum after the 2-1 win over their local rivals Fulham when Roy Hodgson’s side face Wolves at Molineux on Friday.
da supremo： The Eagles got off to a flying start to the season, with a 1-0 victory over Southampton at Selhurst Park, followed by a stunning 3-1 victory against Manchester United at Old Trafford last month.
However, Hodgson’s side came up short against Everton and Chelsea respectively, before they struggled to a dull draw with Brighton and Hove Albion in the A23 derby. But they bounced back with a win away at Craven Cottage at the weekend, which will set them up nicely for the trip to the Molineux.
Here’s Football FanCast’s take for how we think Hodgson will set his side up to face Wolves, which sees the Palace manager make two changes to the team that beat Scott Parker’s side.
Palace’s first-choice goalkeeper Vicente Guiata will mostly likely keep his place between the sticks whilst Jack Butland is still self-isolating. However, Hodgson may decide to ring several changes, as this game could come too soon for Gary Cahill, after the veteran centre-back was on the receiving end of a nasty challenge from Brighton defender Lewis Dunk.
When asked by football.london to provide an update on Cahill’s fitness in the pre-match press conference before the game against Fulham, Hodgson said: “Not very good, I’m afraid. It was a nasty injury, we’re still assessing it. He won’t be able to play tomorrow unless something miraculous happens overnight.
“But I hope it won’t keep him out for weeks on end, but it’s too soon I’m afraid after the kick that he took against Brighton.”
Working on the assumption that Cahill is working his way back to fitness, the ever-reliable Joel Ward may replace Cheikhou Kouyate in the heart of the defence, which would see the 57-cap Senegal international resume his rightful place in the midfield, with club captain Luka Milivojevic dropping to the bench.
Moving further afield, Jeffrey Schlupp has started the past two games in a row, but he was replaced by Eberechi Eze in the second half against Fulham, so he may receive a rest for Friday’s fixture, which would see Eze start in his absence, whilst Wilfried Zaha and Michy Batshuayi resume their promising partnership at the top of the pitch. The pair combined at Craven Cottage when Zaha slotted home Batshuayi’s inch-perfect pass to score his fifth goal of the 2020/21 Premier League season.
AND in other news, Steve Parish must return for Crystal Palace target Flynn Downes in January…