Crystal Palace set to field full-strength side for FA Cup tie at Millwall

Crystal Palace manager Patrick Vieira has indicated he will name his strongest side for tomorrow’s FA Cup tie against Millwall at The Den.

The Eagles will be without a trio of players who have been selected for the Africa Cup of Nations – Wilfried Zaha, Jordan Ayew and Cheikhou Kouyate – but Conor Gallagher, who missed the West Ham United match due to Covid-19 protocols, is back in training.

Some top-flight clubs have used the FA Cup fixtures as a chance to field weakened teams.

But Vieira said: “We have a really exciting game, it is a derby and we want to get through to the next round. We want to do it for our fans.

“We have to have our best starting 11 to compete and try to win that game.”

Millwall have caused a number of upsets in recent years – depositing the likes of Leicester City, then reigning Premier League champions, Watford, Bournemouth and Everton out of the FA Cup.

The Den can be a hostile environment to play football for opposing sides. But Vieira says his squad are fully-equipped for the challenge ahead.

“I think it will be excitement more than anything else,” he said. “The players should be pleased they are going into that game knowing the atmosphere will be really good.

“We know what to expect, so we can’t be surprised on that side. There will be no excuses about the atmosphere they are going to face tomorrow.

“We need to perform. We know that’s going to be a challenge. This is a team that play with tempo and aggression. We know that, we will not be surprised. I want us to go and play with the same attitude we show every week in the Premier League.”