Crystal Palace boss Oliver Glasner asked about Naouirou Ahamada and Matheus Franca

New Crystal Palace boss Oliver Glasner says Naouirou Ahamada and Matheus Franca have made a good impression in his first week of training.

The duo only have one Premier League start between them this season, with Brazilian attacker Franca, who joined the club in the summer from Flamengo, starting the 3-1 defeat at home to Chelsea in Roy Hodgson’s final game in charge.

French midfielder Ahamada is yet to make a league start for the Eagles since signing under Patrick Vieira in January 2023 from Stuttgart. 

The 21-year-old has made 14 appearances off the bench this season before Hodgson stepped down.

Ex-Eintracht Frankfurt head coach Glasner watched from the stands during Monday night’s 1-1 draw at Everton and had his first training session on Wednesday, with the Eagles hosting Burnley in a relegation scrap at the bottom of the Premier League tomorrow.

Palace are five points clear of the bottom three.

Glasner said: “I spoke with both of them, and we support them, just like any other player.

“We have to take the decision. What I promise the players is that if we let those players start, we have the best opportunity to win the game.

“There has been a very good first impression from both, but also from all the other players.

“We had some young players from the academy with us because of the injury situation.

“It’s what I like – showing your ability and showing your strengths. They [Ahamada and Franca] did it.

“They have good chances to get minutes every game if they continue training the way that have.”