Crystal Palace: Eberechi Eze and Michael Olise returns must turbo-charge stagnant season

Ravaged by injuries, it has been a challenging start to the season for Crystal Palace.

The Eagles go into the international break in 13th place in the Premier League, comfortably above the bottom three but off the back of a run of three defeats in four games.

Here, Standard Sport assesses how Palace are faring.

Season so far in one word: Solid

Verdict compared to pre-season expectations: About par. Given that at one time nine first-team players were out injured, including Eberechi Eze and Michael Olise, 15 points from 12 games is a decent return given theirs is a limited squad.

How is the manager doing? It feels like the real marker of how Roy Hodgson is doing is coming up now Eze and Olise are fit again.

His defence and midfield are well-organised, but there is a feeling that the 76-year-old leaves his substitutions too late. Saturday's Everton defeat could arguably have been avoided if he had reacted quicker.

Reason to be cheerful: Eze and Olise’s returns from injury in the last fortnight have given Palace a platform from which to now build.

Eze was brilliant in Saturday's 3-2 defeat by Everton and Palace will look to him and Olise to spark an upturn in form.

Reason to be fearful: The Christmas period. After games against Luton, West Ham and Bournemouth, Palace enter a daunting run in which they face Liverpool, Manchester City, Brighton, Chelsea and Brentford before the end of the year.

So a decent return from their next three matches feels vital.

Fans’ mood: Fans are desperate that the Eagles do not simply tread water this season until a new manager is appointed next summer. August's win over Manchester United was a high point but Palace have not kicked on.

Overall grade: B-