Crystal Palace confirmed team: Jack Butland starts, McCarthy returns as Luka Milivojevic out
Butland #Butland
Roy Hodgson has rung the changes for Crystal Palace’s Premier League clash against Aston Villa, with Jack Butland making his Premier League debut for the club.
Vicente Guaita drops to the bench alongside Wayne Hennessey, while there is a return to the squad for James Tomkins following a serious eye injury suffered earlier in the year.
Joel Ward starts at right-back with Gary Cahill returning to the centre of defence alongside Cheikhou Kouyate, and Tyrick Mitchell continues at left-back.
James McCarthy is back from injury and starts in central midfield alongside Ebere Eze and Jeff Schlupp, as Jairo Riedewald drops to the bench and Luka Milivojevic is out of the squad entirely.
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Andros Townsend starts on the right flank, with Wilfried Zaha on the left and Christian Benteke looking to score against his former club in the centre of attack.
“I think James Tomkins is getting very, very close to being able to play, to being included in the squad,” Hodgson said in his pre-match press conference.
“Patrick van Aanholt has a family issue that he has to take care of, so I don’t think we’ll be seeing him this weekend.
“Nathaniel Clyne has been sick today, but there’s been a bit of a 24-hour illness going round so it’s too early to rule him out, and I will have to see tomorrow if he’s recovered.”
Crystal Palace XI: Butland; Ward, Kouyate, Cahill, Mitchell; McCarthy, Schlupp, Eze; Townsend, Benteke, Zaha.
Subs: Hennessey, Guaita, Dann, Tomkins, Kelly, Riedewald, Ayew, Mateta, Batshuayi.
Aston Villa XI: Martinez; Elmohamady, Konsa, Hause, Targett; Douglas Luiz, McGinn; Traore, Ramsey, El Ghazi; Watkins.
Subs: Steer, Engels, Taylor, Nakamba, Chukwuemeka, Barkley, Grealish, Davis, Wesley.