Glasner offers a confidence boost to struggling Nketiah

Crystal Palace boss Oliver Glasner is confident the goals will come for Eddie Nketiah ahead of his return to the Emirates Stadium with Crystal Palace tomorrow night.

England striker Nketiah came through Arsenal’s academy and spent seven years at the club before making the switch from north to south London in the summer for a reported fee of £25 million.

He found it tough at Selhurst Park, though, scoring just once in 13 appearances.

Nketiah made a good impression after coming on as a second-half substitute in Sunday’s 3-1 win against rivals Brighton and Glasner hopes this can kick-start his Palace career.

He said: “He is very ambitious and works hard. He was thrown back with an injury and during the injury the team started winning games and started playing better and better.

“He had a really positive impact in Brighton along with Daichi Kamada because we had a lot at the beginning of the second half and we put pressure on the ball. So when they came in they worked a lot and the game was more under control

“He got an assist for (Ismaila) Sarr and he also had a great chance.

“You can see that maybe he doesn’t have the highest confidence and that’s completely normal when you’re a striker because he wants to score. My experience is that if a player works as hard as he is working then he will get his reward.

“It would be a big story if he scores at the Emirates.”

Adam Wharton remains out with a groin injury and Daniel Munoz is suspended while Eberechi Eze will be assessed ahead of Crystal Palace’s EFL Cup quarter-final at Arsenal 🚨 pic.twitter.com/Xnn6gwbDMm

— Sky Sports News (@SkySportsNews) December 17, 2024

Nketiah will play a part tomorrow

While he did not commit to starting Nketiah in tomorrow’s EFL Cup quarter-final, Glasner said he would make an appearance, adding: “I don’t know who will play and who will start. We have two or three decisions to make. We don’t know if Ebs (Eze) can play and with one or two players a bit tired – we still have time to decide. I’m sure Eddie will get minutes at his old ground.”

Palace have overcome a slow start to the season and are unbeaten in five games.

The Eagles are full of confidence but Glasner accepting a trip to Arsenal is always a tough task.

“We still have a lot of games to play, but it would be a great achievement for all of us to win at the Emirates,” he said.

“It’s not a place that Crystal Palace is winning every year, so it would be a great achievement.

“It will be a tough and intense 90 minutes, but we have confidence, we feel ready, we are in good shape and we are in a good mood in the dressing room.

“Everything we need before a game, we have, but the most important thing is to show this tomorrow on the pitch.”

Palace will definitely be without Adam Wharton while Daniel Munoz is suspended.