Crystal Palace have received a significant injury boost ahead of their clash with West Ham on Monday — and it could also benefit Tottenham.
Both Tottenham and West Ham are locked in a tense battle to avoid relegation, with Spurs currently in a more precarious position. If West Ham secure a victory, Tottenham could find themselves four points from safety, dealing a serious blow to their survival hopes.
Spurs will be counting on Palace to do them a favour, but the Eagles may have divided attention after booking their place in the Europa Conference League semi-finals last week. Despite that, maintaining momentum in the league remains crucial.
Journalist Bobby Manzi has provided a key update on Maxence Lacroix’s fitness ahead of the match. The French defender was forced off during the midweek clash against Fiorentina, but he has now been cleared to feature against West Ham.
This comes as a major relief for Palace — and indirectly for Tottenham — given the limited defensive options available to Oliver Glasner. Lacroix’s absence midweek saw Chadi Riad come on, leaving Palace without any centre-backs on the bench.
While Palace may be tempted to prioritise their Conference League campaign, balancing both competitions will be essential. They currently sit just six points off sixth place with games in hand on most teams above them, keeping their European qualification hopes through the league alive.
A strong finish in both competitions would mark another impressive season for the Eagles, though it wouldn’t be surprising if Glasner places extra emphasis on securing silverware in what could be his final campaign.
