Crystal Palace handed injury boost ahead of Everton trip

Trevoh Chalobah is poised to be named in Oliver Glasner's Crystal Palace squad for the first time ahead of their Everton clash, seeking their elusive initial win in the Premier League season.

The defender, currently on loan from Chelsea, had been sidelined with an abdominal injury since his switch, but the potential for a Saturday debut has been hinted by his boss.

Despite stumbling in their first two league bouts, Glasner's crew has rallied to secure a trio of consecutive draws; meanwhile, their Merseyside opponents have gathered just one point during their recent jaunt to Leicester.

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Glasner articulated his squad's tenacity, saying: "We still know that we can and we have to improve in parts of the game, but what we always showed was a great character."

Adding more, the Palace boss asserted the resolve of his players: "We showed a great desire to get a point, to come back and not to lose a game. So at the moment, it looks like it's tough to beat us, but it's also tough for us to win the game."

He stressed the importance of intensified training efforts as a step towards victory: "This is the next step, and therefore we have to work harder in the training. We did it this week, and then the win will come."

However, the Eagles will be without Chris Richards on defence due to a hamstring injury garnered at training.

Matheus Franca's comeback from a fractured rib gets tantalisingly closer following a solid week of training, yet the Goodison Park trip is deemed premature for his return. He's expected to be reintegrated with caution into the team fibre.

Last time Palace visited Everton, drama unfurled when Roy Hodgson, having been hospitalised earlier, declared his managerial departure mere hours before the fixture commenced.

Glasner, who took the reins following the match against Everton, expressed his dissatisfaction with his team's performance in the first half of their recent goalless draw with Manchester United. He's been pushing his squad harder this week, stating: "Of course it's important to have these results, to be unbeaten. We wanted to have more playing style, but it's a little bit more fight."

He elaborated on the changes in training: "(This week) we increased the training intensity, we increased what we demanded from the players and it gives us confidence that we also can fight to get the results."

Glasner emphasised the need for a strong foundation: "It's not always just to fight, it's the basics, and this we will need at Goodison Park."