Crystal Palace vs Southampton - Crystal Palace keen to make Eze start to season

Crystal Palace could hand a debut to new signing Ebere Eze when Southampton visit on Saturday for the Premier League opener, but the Eagles will be missing several other players.

The former QPR attacker has returned to training after a groin injury and while he is lacking match fitness, he will be part of the squad to face Saints alongside Michy Batshuayi who joined on loan from Chelsea on Thursday.

Unfortunately for Roy Hodgson, he will be without Gary Cahill, James Tomkins, Mamadou Sakho (all hamstring), Patrick Van Aanholt (shoulder), Nathan Ferguson (knee), Christian Benteke (foot) and Connor Wickham (unspecified) for the clash. Scott Dann is also a doubt with a knock.

Southampton will be without Stuart Armstrong at Selhurst Park.

The midfielder suffered a thigh injury on international duty with Scotland.

Defender Mohammed Salisu, a summer signing from Spanish side Real Valladolid, could make his Saints debut.

Crystal Palace provisional squad: Guaita, Ward, Dann, Kouyate, Mitchell, McArthur, McCarthy, Riedewald, Ayew, Batshuayi, Zaha, Hennessey, Jach, Kelly, Schlupp, Milivojevic, Meyer, Eze, Townsend, Pierrick, Henderson, Jach,

Southampton provisional squad: McCarthy, Forster, Gunn, Walker-Peters, Valery, Bertrand, Vokins, Vestergaard, Salisu, Stephens, Bednarek, Ward-Prowse, Smallbone, Romeu, Redmond, Djenepo, Boufal, Ings, Adams, Long, Obafemi.