Crystal Palace v Watford

Palace have an excellent history of producing homegrown talent, but a recent drought has not seen an academy debutant in the league since Kyle de Silva played against Blackpool in January 2012. Quique Sanchez Flores’ side have won just once in their last eight games and failed to score in four of the last five.

Manager Alan Pardew also expects Yannick Bolasie and Bakary Sako to return at Tottenham next week, which is when Joe Ledley could also be back, given he is unlikely to be risked on Saturday.

Injuries and the suspension meant Palace were short up front during a run that has seen them go nearly two months without a Barclays Premier League win.

Striker Gayle, who has not played since December 7, could return, while fellow frontman Wickham is back in contention having served a three-match ban for violent conduct after elbowing Tottenham’s Jan Vertonghen in the face.

“But the fact is we are finding it hard to win at home, and if we were to get three pointsd at last it would be a massive boost for us after the injury crisis we have suffered”.

It was feared he would go under the knife, with the former Wigan Athletic man tweeting: “Looks like season is over for me with ankle ligaments torn”.

Instead, the Spaniard spoke of his “respect” for Palace, and suggested that Pardew’s side had made an impression on him when the two sides met back in September.

The Hornets have a fully-fit squad to choose from with defender Miguel Britos fit again after recovering from a thigh injury.

“Their defeat at White Hart Lane when Troy Deeney came off the bench was a reminder of how important their captain’s influence is”. “Against Chelsea we had chances, and against Newcastle we created chances”. He put us in a hard situation.

Flores was quick to forget about Palace’s bad run of form, suggesting that they are “now in a bad run, like [Watford]”, but that the Eagles have “very good players”.

– Crystal Palace have won seven and lost just one of the last 10 meetings with Watford in all competitions.

“We have Spurs in the FA Cup next week, a big game for both clubs, and we have a league programme where we’re sitting right bang in the middle”.

Only Jamie Vardy (8) has scored the opening goal of a Premier League game more often than Odion Ighalo (6) this season.