Crystal Palace v Norwich team line-ups: Key midfielder makes first competitive start after lengthy injury layoff

Cheick Doucoure is making his first start for Crystal Palace since November in tonight’s EFL Cup second round clash against Norwich.

The Mali international ruptured his Achilles in the 2-1 defeat at Luton in late November and missed the rest of the 2023-24 season.

Doucoure made his first competitive appearance in the 2-1 defeat at Brentford on the opening day of the new season but was left on the bench in the 2-0 defeat at home to West Ham on Saturday.

Eberechi Eze, Jean-Philippe Mateta and Daichi Kamada have all been handed starting roles against the Championship side.

Palace: Henderson, Munoz, Riad, Guehi, Clyne, Mitchell, Hughes, Doucoure, Kamada, Eze, Mateta.

Bench: Johnstone, Ward, Sarr, Lerma, Richards, Schlupp, Wharton, Edouard, Richards, Ahamada.

Norwich: Long, Fisher, Hanley, Cordoba. Chrisene, Gibbs, Nunez, Forson, Forsyth, Hernandez, Crnac.

Subs: Mair, Stacey, Duffy, Doyle, Hills, McLean, SSchwartau, Sainz, Sargent.