Crystal Palace boss delivers Adam Wharton starting verdict ahead of Aston Villa clash
BY ANDY MCSTEEN
Crystal Palace manager Oliver Glasner has hinted that midfielder Adam Wharton could start his first Premier League game since October as the Eagles prepare to face Aston Villa on Tuesday night.
The England international has been eased back into action this month, making three appearances from the bench in the league – including nine minutes in the 2-0 win at Fulham on Saturday – and one start in the FA Cup following groin surgery in November.
“We’ve almost got one-and-a-half days more to take final decisions, but Adam is doing well. He’s fine and it’s possible he starts the game,” said Glasner about the 21-year-old, who last started a league game on 27 October, against Tottenham.
“We have to think about what’s best for the Aston Villa game – how they play and finding the perfect fit. Also, some players are a little bit fatigued, so it’s about finding the right the right mix, the right players. Everybody’s feeling well, and the players are fit with no injuries, so all good.”
With just two days between the Fulham and Villa games, there is little time for Glasner and his squad to work together, but thanks to the win in west London on Saturday – their fourth consecutive 2-0 away victory – the atmosphere in the camp is positive.
“Always after winning, everybody’s mood is good,” said the Austrian. “We met on Sunday morning, and that was great. We started to analyse, but the players were really tired because they invested a lot [on Saturday) and it was tough work.
“Today we were just on the pitch for 30 minutes – I do not call this training; it’s just a little bit of activation. The real training happened in the meeting room, it was a little bit longer, like always, when we have two games in three days.
“It was 30 minutes of video, and then combining Aston Villa – how they play, what it needs for us to be competitive [against them] – and then clips from the Fulham game that fit together. We found many good clips that we could show the players, and then it’s up to us to show it again against Villa.”
PICTURE: ALAMY