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Football London
Football London
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Mark Wyatt

Michael Olise starts, James McArthur decision: Predicted Crystal Palace XI vs Norwich

Patrick Vieira takes his Crystal Palace side to Carrow Road this evening to take on Norwich City in the Premier League.

The Frenchman has almost a full squad at his disposal for the game, with James McArthur and James Tomkins returning from injury while Wilfried Zaha and Jordan Ayew are back from the Africa Cup of Nations.

Vieira admitted during Tuesday's pre-match press conference that having so many options for his starting XI made things difficult but that it was a good problem to have with every player wanting minutes on the pitch.

In their last outing against Hartlepool in the FA Cup, it was Jack Butland who once again donned the gloves for Palace but Vieira should revert back to regular number one Vicente Guaita to start against the Canaries.

Similarly, Joachim Andersen was an unused substitute on the weekend but should be available to form one half of Palace's preferred centre-back pairing alongside England Under-21 international Marc Guehi tonight.

Tyrick Mitchell should return at left-back once again while Joel Ward takes his place on the right, with Nathan Ferguson picking up a knock that will keep him out of the matchday squad.

In midfield, Vieira could choose to start McArthur after his return from injury but might want to air on the side of caution and instead bring him on to impact the match later on.

Will Hughes, Jeffrey Schlupp and Conor Gallagher should then start again as a midfield three, with Hughes providing the defensive cover at the base of the trio.

There are then more selection headaches in the forward areas with Wilfried Zaha likely to start on the left-wing in his return to the team.

That would push Jean-Philippe Mateta, who scored in the reverse fixture at Selhurst Park, out of the team in place of Odsonne Edouard, who also found the net against the Canaries in December.

Michael Olise's fine form should be rewarded with his fifth Premier League start of the season, with Jordan Ayew available to come off the bench if needed.

Crystal Palace predicted XI: Guaita; Mitchell, Guehi, Andersen, Ward; Hughes, Schlupp, Gallagher; Zaha, Edouard, Olise.

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