Tour 2024 has yet to begin, but already Oliver Glasner will be thinking of the opportunities he can hand out to the Crystal Palace squad.
To start pre-season, Oliver Glasner has a severely weakened squad thanks to the multiple international tournaments being competed for this summer while Eagles players have been critical to success.
This sees Palace have four players potentially playing in the Euro 2024 final and then one [thanks to Daniel Munoz’s suspension] in the Copa America final…
With these absences in mind, there could be an opportunity for five players to be afforded a massive opportunity to impress.
Here are the five who we think could capitalise on Crystal Palace’s diminished squad.
The five players with a huge chance to impress Crystal Palace this summer
This summer the lack of players back in pre-season training due to the international commitments of several players could see a select few handed a golden opportunity to prove their worth.
Matheus Franca
Crystal Palace’s marquee signing from last summer was Matheus Franca. But due to injuries and a lack of game time under Roy Hodgson in particular, he never had a chance to reach the expected heights at
Franca will benefit from Eberechi Eze’s involvement at Euro 2024 and also Olise’s sale. He should therefore be afforded the chance to impress Glasner in pre-season.
Cheick Doucoure
The second name on the list is midfield general Cheick Doucoure as the Malian international is set for a return from injury this pre-season after over 7 months injured.
Doucoure’s return will see him in a midfield without both Adam Wharton and Jefferson Lerma who are in the finals of Euro 2024 and Copa America respectively.
Therefore, he’ll get all the minutes he can handle on his recovery although he’ll be well aware that the midfield landscape he returns to is vastly different to the one he left last season.
Odsonne Edouard
Another more senior name on the list is Odsonne Edouard, with the striker possibly set for a starring role through preseason and to start 2024/25 with Jean-Philippe Mateta at the Olympics.
He is likely to depart but Mateta’s absence still gives him a huge opportunity to show his ability and remind interested parties why he was once so highly sought after.
Chadi Riad
Having only arrived this summer from Real Betis, Chadi Riad has the chance to make an instant impact and place himself firmly in the running to be a starter next season.
Marc Guehi is still at Euro 2024, so the left centre-back position is up for grabs in pre-season and potentially even following that. Riad is a top talent and he’s more than capable of making this position his own.
Sam Johnstone
The final name on the list is one who is most likely to earn a starting spot. Sam Johnstone was Glasner’s original number-one goalkeeper, but injury opened the door for Dean Henderson.
Now, Johnstone could return the favour by taking Henderson’s starting spot due to him being a squad member for England.
Oliver Glasner must review his options
With names like Edouard and Johnstone, Palace could very easily decide to sell this summer. But before that happens, they should get the chance to prove their worth.
Glasner shouldn’t write off players before they get a chance in preseason, this is due to the effect he’s already had and the improvements he’s made to multiple players.
2024/25 will be a special one for the Eagles, and now it’s up to Glasner to see who deserves to be a part of it all.