BY ANDREW MCSTEEN
Crystal Palace supervisor Oliver Glasner has instructed the South London Press that membership captain Joel Ward stays an important a part of his matchday squad regardless of the 35-year-old not that includes within the Premier League to this point this season.
Ward signed for the Eagles in Might 2012 and has gone on to make 304 Premier League appearances for the South London outfit, together with a quantity on the finish of final season when Glasner joined the membership in February.
“Wardy is a implausible man. Everybody, each supervisor, needs to have such a man, not only a participant – he’s an ideal participant, probably the most appearances within the Premier League for Crystal Palace greater than 300 – however he’s an impressive, good and optimistic character,” stated the Austrian coach.
“Sure, he didn’t get the minutes this yr because of the circumstances that the gamers in his place are doing very well, the wing-backs – Daniel Munoz is in excellent form in the intervening time. Then, after having quite a lot of modifications at first of the season, attributable to late arrivals, accidents and giving the brand new gamers some extra minutes collectively in order that they get to know one another, however he’s by no means complaining, all the time working onerous and all the time optimistic.”
This season, Ward has made only a solitary look as a 79th substitute within the 4-0 EFL Cup win at residence to Norwich, however has been named on the substitute bench for all however thrice your complete season.
And Glasner was fast to reward the advantages the previous Portsmouth participant brings to his aspect off the pitch forward of the rivalry conflict in opposition to Brighton this Sunday.
“He’s so vital within the dressing room [as well as] on the pitch,” defined Glasner. “He’s the man earlier than a recreation – even when he’s on the bench – who speaks probably the most within the locker room, encouraging the others, pushing the others. I’ve quite a lot of respect and appreciation for Wardy and I’m actually completely happy that he’s in our squad.”
