Crystal Palace handed new fitness boost for FA Cup semi-final clash with Aston Villa | OneFootball

Eagles head to Wembley for last-four showdown missing only long-term absentees Chadi Riad and Cheick Doucoure

Crystal Palace have an almost entirely clean bill of health on the eve of their FA Cup semi-final tie against Aston Villa, manager Oliver Glasner has revealed.

Chadi Riad and Cheick Doucoure are both out for the season with respective ACL injuries but the Eagles otherwise have all their players available for Saturday’s trip to Wembley.

Palace - who have yet to win a major trophy in their history - are bidding to reach the FA Cup final for just the third time and first since losing 2-1 to Manchester United after extra time under Alan Pardew in 2016.

Back in action: Chelsea loanee Ben Chilwell missed Crystal Palace’s midweek trip to Arsenal through illness

John Walton/PA Wire

“They are in great shape, and have won eight of their last 10 games,” Glasner said of opponents Villa.

“Their whole squad is available. It’s similar to us. All our players are fit, apart from Chadi Riad and Cheick Doucoure. Ben Chilwell is back fit.”

Glasner was asked how keen he is to be the manager that puts an end to Palace’s long trophy wait, but he urged caution and provided a reminder that there is no silverware up for grabs yet.

“It’s just a semi-final,” the Austrian said. “It’s clear that the goal is to win the game and go to the final.

“It’s a big game for us, but it’s not so important what it means for me. I’ve never seen an FA Cup final until now.

“We don’t want to make it bigger than it is. It’s a football game. But we go in with confidence.”

Glasner said of the FA Cup, which is the oldest cup competition in world football still in existence: “I could just feel from day number one here that it is a very traditional cup and this is a huge cup in England. That’s one more reason to go to the final.”