Crystal Palace: Oliver Glasner makes 'sad' Eddie Nketiah admission ahead of Arsenal return | OneFootball

Striker signed for £25million from Arsenal last summer but has has limited opportunities to impress

Oliver Glasner has admitted he feels “sad” for Eddie Nketiah about how the Englishman’s first season at Crystal Palace has unfolded.

The 25-year-old striker has scored five goals and registered two assists in 30 appearances this term, since making a £25million move from Arsenal to Selhurst Park last summer. However, he has only started 10 matches in all competitions.

Palace are gearing up for their FA Cup semi-final against Aston Villa at Wembley on Saturday.

Glasner says he plans to make “two or three changes” from Saturday’s goalless draw against Bournemouth when they visit Arsenal in the Premier League, with Nketiah poised to start against his former team.

Left wing-back Ben Chilwell, on loan from Chelsea, was set to make his first league start for Palace against Arsenal but has fallen ill on the eve of the match.

“Ben Chilwell is sick, unfortunately,” said Glasner. “He should have started but couldn’t come to training – all others are fit.”

Ben Chilwell will miss the trip to north London due to illness

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The Palace boss was asked for his reflections on Nketiah’s first season as Palace.

“It’s not time to sum up Eddie’s season now, but he’s so hard-working,” said Glasner. “Sometimes I feel a little bit sad for him, personally, when I see all his effort.

“For example, Newcastle he comes on when we’re 5-0 down. It’s the worst situation you can have as a player. I had this once in my career and I didn’t really like it. He had two or three chances. At the end he could score and then he slipped.

“It looks like, sometimes, things don’t go well for him. But I spoke to him afterwards, because I see him every day working. And there will come a day when he gets paid for all his effort. For me personally, it feels like they didn’t come now until now.”

He added: “We still have some great games to play, and maybe this day when he gets the payback for all his effort will come soon.

“I expect both teams entering the pitch to want to win the game. We expect they will play with their strongest team; they have six days [in between Wednesday and] their Champions League semi-final. We will play with the best available team tomorrow as well.”