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Evening Standard
Evening Standard
Sport
tom dutton

Wilfried Zaha makes first Crystal Palace start since submitting transfer request

Wilfried Zaha makes his first start for Crystal Palace since attempting to force a move away from the club in the final hours of the transfer window.

The Palace man, who submitted a transfer request 24 hours before the deadline following a bid from Everton, replaces Jordan Ayew in Roy Hodgson's team to face Sheffield United.

Palace blocked his move because their valuation was not met and Zaha was sent home from training on deadline day as manager Hodgson felt he was not in the right state of mind.

However, the Ivory Coast international returned the following day and came on as a substitute in Palace's 0-0 draw with Everton on the opening day. He has trained all week and starts at Bramall Lane against the top flight newcomers.

It is one of two changes to the Palace matchday squad, with Jeffrey Schlupp replacing Victor Camarasa on the bench. The former has recovered from an injury, while Camarasa took a knock in an Under-23s game on Monday.

Sheff Utd: Henderson, Basham, Egan, O'Connell, Baldock, Lundstram, Norwood, Fleck, Stevens, McGoldrick, Robinson.

Subs: Luke Freeman, McBurnie, Sharp, Jagielka, Osborn, Moore, Besic.

Crystal Palace: Guaita, Ward, Kelly, Dann, van Aanholt, Townsend, McArthur, Milivojevic, Meyer, Benteke, Zaha.

Subs: Kouyate, Ayew, Hennessey, Schlupp, Wickham, McCarthy, Cahill.

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