Fans were quick to look ahead to the weekend’s fixture after the news that Roy Hodgson has received a boost to his squad selection options. A range of players, including James Tomkins, were pictured returning to training following injuries.
The defender was pictured along with his teammates at the Eagles’ Beckenham training facility recently, though Hodgson had previously confirmed his initial return to first-team preparations at the start of the month.
The centre-back has since been rebuilding his fitness and he looks to work his way back into Roy Hodgson’s starting XI.
The squad was recently boosted following the return of extra senior squad members, such as Jeffrey Schlupp and Patrick van Aanholt. Schlupp and van Aanholt were featured in the squad that took on rivals Brighton at home, with the former starting out wide.
Whilst Tomkins appears to be building up his fitness, it is unlikely he would start against Fulham; he will likely be eased slowly into action without risking further exposure.
With Tomkins joining other regular senior players in returning to the fold, Hodgson’s dilemma in selecting a range of options is a good problem to have.
Palace can take comfort with the greater depth they possess as they look ahead to Saturday’s clash. Palace take on Fulham as they look to break a winless run of three games.
Palace fans took to Twitter to express their reactions to the return of extra reinforcements and look ahead to the weekend’s clash…
Twitter: @portman_tom @__HyperMusic__ Tomkins, PVA, Ayew and Mcarthy are missing first team players who are key to the team.
COYP CPFC (@hdeagle08)
Twitter: @CPFC Must win game (@davidfi73937834)
Twitter: @CPFC If I were a gambling man, this is not the kind of fixture I would be betting on a Palace win (@OwenWG1976)
Twitter: If we lose to Fulham we are in a serious mess. The way we are playing atm I’m not in the confident either https://t.co/9R4o0xNmBu (@Adam_Palace)
Twitter: I’ll take an 8-1-1 formation if it means I get to see Eze finally play AM https://t.co/Za6WqAZkzA (@SomePalaceGuy)
Twitter: @CPFC Please no more sit back defend football, need to attack teams now like we did at old trafford!! (@kwaido81)
