Rested team can storm Palace - at the double

PLAYERS HAVE DEBT TO REPAY FANS AFTER DISMAL OUTINGS

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IT might be a tad late to suggest that Newcastle United are about to pop into the Last Chance Saloon for a refresher before a final glorious shoot at the heavens.

They probably blew that big time when getting humiliatingly dumped out of the Champions League with a seven-goal thrashing and then proceeding to badly lose a derby match against Sunderland for the second time. No big baubles now.

However, Crystal Palace does represent an opportunity to record their first double over this particular opposition for more than 10 years dating back to the 2013-14 season. Failure to do that would see doom follow gloom.

United have a good chance, on paper at least if not on grass. Palace aren’t too clever in front of their own. They have a better away record having won just three of their 15 PL games at Selhurst Park, drawing seven and losing the other five.

Their total of 14 goals at home is the second fewest in the PL one more than Nottingham Forest.

If one of the excuses regularly put forward for an underachieving season is that United have been tired with a relentless programme on four fronts and a small squad then they ought to be refreshed. Excuse gone.