Crystal Palace vs Bolton Wanderers - Sam Allardyce ready to field weakened team

Posted Tuesday, January 17, 2017 by PA

Sam Allardyce will again name a weakened team when Crystal Palace host his former club Bolton in Tuesday's FA Cup third-round replay.

Forwards Wilfried Zaha and Bakary Sako are both on international duty at the African Nations Cup, while Scott Dann is to be rested, but new signing Jeffrey Schlupp could make his debut.

Steve Mandanda is yet to return to training after surgery, a hamstring problem has ruled out Fraizer Campbell, James McArthur has been sent for a scan after suffering a fresh injury, and Pape Souare, Jordon Mutch and Connor Wickham are all long-term absentees, restricting Allardyce's options.

"The team that starts will have only one player that hasn't played regularly in the first team but has been out on loan recently," Allardyce said. "The rest have plenty of Premier League experience; hopefully they'll go one better than they did at Bolton.

"At this stage of the year we're concerned about bigger things than the FA Cup. When you're in the position we're in, struggling in the wrong parts of the table, and the window's open, the FA Cup is one of your lesser priorities.

"(But) it's also a very, very good opportunity for squad players to play.

"The team have lost what it used to be (under Tony Pulis). For whatever reason the identity of the team, in the way it is playing, has changed.

"It was all about how good they were by using the possession that they had, which was far less than the opposition, but was so effective that they ended up winning football matches. We have lost that identity that we need to try and bring back. (And) we need a bit more pace."

Bolton manager Phil Parkinson has decisions to make on which players to rest.

Both Josh Vela and James Henry played in Saturday's defeat at Swindon after illness and a thigh problem respectively and the Wanderers boss could decide they need a break.

Captain Darren Pratley is closing in on a return to the squad after his broken leg.

On-loan Keshi Anderson, who has not featured for a month, returned to parent club Palace on the eve of the game which frees up space in Parkinson's squad and he may try to re-sign Newcastle's Sammy Ameobi on another temporary deal.