MX23RW : Friday, November 8 11:26:36| >> :120:17956:17956:

Patrick Vieira says Odsonne Edouard is ready to be unleashed against Brighton

Patrick Vieira says Odsonne Edouard is ready to be unleashed against Brighton
© Reuters
Eagles boss Patrick Vieira is excited to experience the rivalry with Brighton for the first time.

Crystal Palace manager Patrick Vieira says summer signing Odsonne Edouard is ready to start against Brighton on Monday but has urged patience with the £15million forward.

The former Celtic attacker has been restricted to cameo roles since he moved to Selhurst Park on transfer deadline day last month.

A debut brace off the bench against Tottenham earlier in September ensured Edouard made a perfect start to life with the Eagles and he could be unleashed against the club's rivals Brighton.

"Yes I think he has been fit and is ready to start a game. It is just moving to a different country and moving to the Premier League, he needs time to adapt," Vieira said.

"We will take our time to make him feel comfortable in the club, in the way we want to play but he is physically and mentally ready to start the game.

"I am pleased and happy with him. He came on, scored those two goals and came on against Liverpool and created a couple of situations.

"He is a player who needs to adapt himself to the Premier League and to the club but he is working well. I think he gives me one more option up front about who to select for the game."

Edouard, who started three games for Celtic in August, moved to England after a successful few years in Scotland.

If selected for his full debut against Brighton, it would mean two ex-France Under-21 internationals will lead the line for the respective teams.

Neal Maupay has already scored three times in the Premier League for the Seagulls this term and is a player Vieira admires but he pointed out the other qualities of Graham Potter's side.

He added: "Maupay, I believe is a really clinical number nine. He has a lot of energy up front and is a really good finisher but the strength of this team is their collective game.

"When they have the ball, they are really close to each other and their passing, movement, it is really good. We expect obviously a tough, challenging game because they are playing at the moment with a lot of confidence."

This will be Vieira's first taste of a grudge match between two clubs which may be separated by more than 40 miles but have been rivals since the 1970s and who have produced several memorable encounters during the ensuing years.

"I am like every single fan, really excited about the game," the Palace boss admitted.

"The rivalry between the two clubs, the atmosphere will be like always but it will be important for us to concentrate on the way we want to play the game.

"What I want from the players is the same passion, organisation and desire we show in the last couple of games. If we manage to be consistent with those then we will have a good chance to get a good result."

Jeffrey Schlupp (hamstring) has returned to training and is available again, but Nathan Ferguson and Ebere Eze (both Achilles) remain absent.

ID:465197:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:collect3836:

Click here for more stories about Patrick Vieira

Click here for more stories about Brighton & Hove Albion

Collect / Create New Data
Share this article now:
Bruno Fernandes scores a penalty for Manchester United against Newcastle United in the Premier League on February 21, 2021
Read Next:
PL Team of the Week - Fernandes, Rashford, Pickford
>
Sports Mole Logo
Enter your email address to subscribe to Sports Mole's free match previews newsletter! Updates are sent twice a week.
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
FT
Bengals
34-35
Ravens
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Liverpool108111961325
2Manchester CityMan City1072121111023
3Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest10541147719
4Chelsea105322012818
5Arsenal105321711618
6Aston Villa105321715218
7Tottenham HotspurSpurs1051422111116
8Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton104421714316
9Fulham104331413115
10Bournemouth104331312115
11Newcastle UnitedNewcastle104331010015
12Brentford104151920-113
13Manchester UnitedMan Utd10334912-312
14West Ham UnitedWest Ham103251319-611
15Leicester CityLeicester102441418-410
16Everton102351017-79
17Crystal Palace10145813-57
18Ipswich TownIpswich100551021-115
19Southampton10118719-124
20Wolverhampton WanderersWolves100371427-133


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!