As Crystal Palace head into the final weeks of the season there is still a lot for the team to play for. Hunting a top-10 finish in the Premier League for just the second time in a decade and with a trip to Wembley to play Chelsea in the FA Cup semi-final, Patrick Vieira still needs to keep his squad motivated if they want to finish the campaign on a high and make it one that will live long in the memory of the club’s supporters.
Barring the rotation of strikers, the Palace team has largely picked itself over the course of the season, with the majority of the club’s summer signings - Marc Guehi, Joachim Andersen, Conor Gallagher, Michael Olise - afforded regular game time where they are clearly the standout players in their position.
One area that hasn’t been nailed down by any player this season though is the third spot in Vieira’s 4-3-3 midfield trio. Gallagher’s place in the midfield has been assured every week and for good reason, while Cheikhou Kouyate is the clear favourite to start in the holding midfield role when fit and available.
