Football London report Crystal Palace boss Roy Hodgson could welcome Joel Ward back to the starting lineup this week, as his side prepare to take on Spurs on Saturday evening.
The prime-time encounter will see a Palace team that have made a largely indifferent start to the season take on a Spurs outfit who have not had the easiest time of it themselves in recent weeks.
A 2-2 draw against Arsenal stands as perhaps the highlight of the campaign thus far, although many Palace fans would have left frustrated, given the dubious nature of Aubameyang’s goal. And by dubious, I of course mean Alexandre Lacazette’s expert volleyball smash to set his strike partner up.
Palace’s defence has shipped 16 goals through 11 matches, and the reintroduction of Ward could make them stronger still. The 29-year-old has missed the last three matches with a muscle issue, and has appeared just four times this term.
However, his inclusion may come at the cost of Aaron Wan-Bissaka. The youngster has been filling in at right-back in the absence of Ward, and has done a superb job in relief.
If Hodgson wants to allow Wan-Bissaka the chance to keep improving, the 20-year-old could get the nod against Spurs. If the former England manager thinks experience would be useful against the lethal Heung-Min Son however, Ward may be called back into the starting eleven.
