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Football London
Football London
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Joe Doyle

Confirmed Crystal Palace team news as Wilfried Zaha and Luka Milivojevic return

Wilfried Zaha and Luka Milivojevic return to the Crystal Palace starting XI for the Premier League clash against West Brom, with Andros Townsend dropping to the bench and Scott Dann missing out.

Milivojevic is into the centre of midfield, with Cheikhou Kouyate dropping back into the heart of defence alongside Gary Cahill following a disappointing turn against Newcastle.

Vicente Guaita starts in goal, with Nathaniel Clyne at right-back, Cahill and Kouyate in the centre and Patrick van Aanholt continuing at left-back, as Tyrick Mitchell is left out of the squad again.

Jeff Schlupp starts on the right wing, with Milivojevic partnering James McArthur in the centre and Ebere Eze wide on the left.

In attack, Zaha is joined by Christian Benteke following the Belgian striker's decent cameo appearance against Newcastle, as Jordan Ayew drops to the bench.

Hodgson confirmed in his press conference that he had nearly a fully fit team to pick from, with Zaha and Milivojevic back ready after their positive COVID tests.

"Yes, [Zaha] was very disappointed to miss those last two games," Hodgson told reporters.

"But he's with us since having his test, and it proving negative. So we've been enjoying his presence with us in training this week and he's fit and ready to play.

"[Milivojevic is] another one unfortunately who went away with Serbia and contracted it, and he's been over it for a while but it's of course been the sending off at Wolves which has cost us his services.

"But he's now back and been knocking loudly at the door for a place in the team and there's competition now in terms of players who are able to play, wanting to play, and I don't have space for them all.

"Wayne [Hennessey] of course is still injured, as is Connor Wickham.

"Nathan [Ferguson] is making good progress. He's starting to join in, little by little, with us, but it's still very controlled because of the concerns that he doesn't come back too soon and do any damage to the knee.

"Martin Kelly is still actually - I won't say suffering because he's not that bad - but he had that problem with his calf muscle, and we're still being a bit careful with that as well. He's probably a little way from being able to join us.

"But otherwise, we have a fully fit squad with an awful lot of players available."

Crystal Palace XI: Guaita; Clyne, Cahill, Kouyate, Van Aanholt; Schlupp, McArthur Milivojevic, Eze; Zaha, Benteke.

Subs: Butland, Ward, Sakho, Riedewald, Townsend, Batshuayi, Ayew.

West Brom XI: Johnstone, Furlong, Ajayi, Ivanovic, Bartley, Phillips, Sawyers, Gallagher, Pereira, Diangana, Grant.

Subs: Button, Gibbs, O'Shea, Krovinovic, Grosicki, Robinson, Austin.

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