March 10 2015

Yannick Bolasie

Yannick Bolasie thinks Crystal Palace will benefit from 11 days off to recharge ahead of the season run-in.

The Eagles were narrowly defeated 1-0 by top-four challengers Southampton in their last match but were without six key players.

Marouane Chamakh, Glenn Murray, Yaya Sanogo, Jordon Mutch, Mile Jedinak and Fraizer Campbell were all missing through a combination of injury and suspension.

Alan Pardew's side host relegation rivals QPR in a lunchtime kick-off this Saturday with everyone bar Jedinak likely to be available again.

QPR played Tottenham last Saturday, while Palace had a rest weekend, and Bolasie is confident the Eagles can return to winning ways after the break.

He said: "I think by the time the next game against QPR comes round everyone should be back and fit again.

"As a footballer, this break we now have can be frustrating because most tend to want to get back into it straight away after a game – to get a win back on the board.

"But we’re looking forward to QPR now, and maybe the break will do us good. It will give me and the team a chance to freshen up and hopefully see us through to the end of the season.

"Hopefully we’ll have players back in time for the next game - because I think that’s what was missing a little bit at Southampton. We had people who weren’t fully fit like Shola Ameobi playing at Southampton."