Eberechi Eze & Michael Olise are one of the Premier League’s best double acts – but can they stay fit?

CRYSTAL PALACE fans have been increasingly vocal in their frustration as this season has progressed.

Currently 14th with 24 points from 22 Premier League games, the Eagles are set for yet another unremarkable campaign – seemingly safe from relegation but still firmly in the bottom half.

The South London club have been in the top flight for 11 straight seasons now and only once have they finished in the top half (10th in 2014/15).

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They have often been among the league’s lowest scorers too with the current campaign no exception – only Manchester United, Everton, Burnley and Sheffield United have scored fewer goals at this stage with the Red Devils and Clarets having a game in hand.

While supporters appreciate survival in the world’s most-watched league is not taken for granted, the growing sense of stagnation is understandable.

Amid the frustration, however, Palace boast one of the most joyous double acts in European football.

Eberechi Eze (£3.7m) and Michael Olise (£3.9m) blend style with substance, as evidenced by the pair’s inspired showings to help Roy Hodgson’s side to victory over Sheffield United on Tuesday night, despite the Blades having taken the lead in the first minute.

Olise assisted Eze twice before scoring a fantastic goal of his own as the hosts bagged a much-needed three points at Selhurst Park with a 3-2 win over the team currently rooted to the bottom of the table.

Naturally, the pair’s heroics translated to Dream Team success.

Both banked 16 points for their respective efforts and are therefore Gameweek 21’s joint-best midfielders at the time of writing.

The problem is that Palace fans so rarely get to enjoy the two midfielders in tandem.

Tuesday night’s fixture was just seventh time this season that Eze and Olise started together.

Both have been blighted by injuries in recent years and, as if to underline the issue, Hodgson was forced to replace each of them in the final 25 minutes with the game on a knife-edge.

Speaking after the final whistle, the England international said: “I’m okay, it was just a precaution, it should be fine. [Michael Olise] is also fine. He’s good.”

Eze’s comments will be warmly welcomed by the Selhurst Park faithful but both players remain availability concerns ahead of Saturday’s game against rivals Brighton.

Many Dream Team managers will be just as frustrated as Hogdson.

Olise in particularly has exhibited immense pedigree when fit.

In fact, the 22-year-old averages ten points-per-game this season, the best rate among all assets – Erling Haaland (£7.9m) is second on 9.8 points-per-game.

He’s notched a whopping 68 points across his last five outings!

The France youth international has also racked up 26 bonus points in just ten appearances.

Eze is a keen bonus point hoarder as well, his tally of 32 is only bettered by four players in his position and that with the ex-QPR playmaker having been sidelined for half a dozen games this term.

Here’s hoping the talented duo are able to play together for the remainder of the campaign – Dream Team and the Premier League are better off for it.

Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk