FA Cup: Bolton v Crystal Palace preview

Bolton v Crystal Palace preview

Loic Remy should make his long-awaited Crystal Palace debut in Saturday's FA Cup clash at Bolton.

France striker Remy picked up a thigh injury just days after joining the Eagles on loan from Chelsea in late August and has been unable to feature since.

Palace boss Sam Allardyce started his professional playing career with Bolton and then managed them for eight years between 1999 and 2007.

He plans to make "wholesale changes" on his return as he admits the FA Cup is not the priority this season.

"Our priority - and this is not me, this is the club and the chairman saying our priority and why I have been brought here - is to stay in the Premier League," he said.

 

"So with injuries, players going to the Africa Cup of Nations and fatigue, there will be a lot of changes. We will make wholesale changes. The good thing is players who have not played that much will get an opportunity."

Bolton have only lost once at home this season and are second in League One, three points behind leaders Sheffield United.

Manager Phil Parkinson led Bradford to a shock 4-2 win over Chelsea in the FA Cup in 2015.

 

Bolton will be without Sammy Ameobi after he was recalled from his loan spell by Newcastle.

Fraizer Campbell and Lee Chung-yong could be in contention for Palace, while Sullay Kaikai might feature after being recalled from his loan spell at Brentford.

 

Goalkeeper Wayne Hennessey has an unspecified knock so Julian Speroni could be in line for his first action of the season, which would see him set a new all-time Palace record of 389 appearances.