Aitor Karanka believes that last week’s international break
came at the ‘right moment’ despite Boro’s unbeaten start to the season.
Boro had taken five points from their first three league
games before the hiatus, however their manager insists that his side have still
had a good week.
The Teessiders will have key players Victor Valdes, George
Friend and Marten De Roon back from injury for this Saturday’s game against
Crystal Palace at the Riverside.
Karanka will be faced with a selection headache, with new
signings Calum Chambers and Adarma Traore both pushing for a start.
It’s a problem that the Spaniard is welcoming, saying: “It’s
nice and I’m very pleased, I prefer to have this type of problem that only
having 10 or 12 players.”
“The most difficult thing about my job is to try and keep
players happy, but I don’t want players to be happy if they are not playing,”
he added.
The Boro boss admitted that Palace will probably be a
stronger side than what they were at the start of the season, following their business
in the transfer market and the £32 million capture of Christian Benteke.
Team News
Karanka confirmed that he will have a fully fit squad to choose
from this weekend, after the international break allowed Friend, De Roon and Valdes
to recover from injuries.
Gaston Ramirez and Cristhian Stuani both represented Uruguay
this week and only returned on Friday so both could be rested.
Grant Leadbitter, James Husband and Fabio are still out with
long term issues.
Palace manager Alan Pardew should have James McArthur available
after the midfielder pulled out of the Scotland squad last week.
Frenchman Yohan Cabaye is doubtful groin problem, while new
signing Loic Remy is expected to be side-lined for around two months after
sustaining an injury in training.
Mathieu Flamini is expected to travel with the squad after
signing on a free agent this week, however the midfielder may not be fit enough
to start.
The Opposition
Palace have endured a miserable 2016 in the league and have
recorded just two wins since the turn of the year.
If it wasn’t for a run to the FA Cup final in May then
manager Alan Pardew could be facing questions about his future, after leading
Palace to a tenth place finish in the 2014/15 campaign.
This season has also started sluggishly, with The Eagles
taking just one point from three games after drawing at home to Bournemouth
last time out.
Prior to that 1-1 draw, Pardew’s side suffered 1-0 defeats
to West Brom and Tottenham.
Even so, Palace have strengthened this summer and Pardew
will hope that Benteke is the answer to his side’s lack of goals.
They have pace on the counter attack through the likes of
Wilfred Zaha and Andros Townsend, while goalkeeper Steve Mandanda and centre
half James Tomkins should improve their defence after signing this summer.
One To Watch
Scott Dann
Dann was one of the most consistent centre halves in the
Premier League last campaign and it could be argued that he was unfortunate not
to get an England call-up in the summer.
He is prolific in the air and can pose a series goal threat
from set plays.
Dann scored Palace’s equaliser against Bournemouth a fortnight
ago with a powerful header - it is their only goal of the season so far.
Last Time Out
Crystal Palace 4
Middlesbrough 1 – 16/2/2013
Boro suffered a dismal day at Selhurst Park when both teams
were fighting for promotion in the Championship.
Glenn Murray opened the scoring after eight minutes for Ian
Holloway’s side, who then doubled their lead though Peter Ramage after half
time.
Murray added a third minutes later, before Faris Haroun
pulled one back for Tony Mowbray’s visitors.
Kevin Phillips made 4-1 eight minutes from time.
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