Newcastle United narrowly missed out on signing Jorgen Strand Larsen last summer as they sought a replacement for Alexander Isak, whose £125 million transfer to Liverpool left a significant gap in the squad. The Norway international ultimately joined Crystal Palace in February from Wolverhampton Wanderers for a club-record £48 million. Since his arrival, the 26-year-old striker has made six Premier League starts and scored three goals.

Oliver Glasner, the manager of Crystal Palace, expressed confidence in Strand Larsen’s readiness ahead of the club’s upcoming Premier League match against Newcastle. After serving a suspension that sidelined him during Palace’s recent Conference League victory over Fiorentina, Strand Larsen is expected to return to the starting lineup, replacing Jean-Philippe Mateta.

Glasner highlighted the striker’s consistent motivation and praised his condition following a three-week break prior to the European fixture. “He’s always motivated and that’s how he’s been from day one here,” Glasner said, emphasizing that the team would not undergo significant rotation unless fitness concerns arose.

Palace’s manager also confirmed the squad’s overall freshness heading into the clash with Newcastle, though he left open the possibility of adjustments depending on player assessments in the coming days.

Meanwhile, the club has confirmed that striker Eddie Nketiah will miss the remainder of the season due to injury. Glasner, who is set to depart Selhurst Park next month, acknowledged that Nketiah has played his final game for the club under his management.

The match against Newcastle represents a notable test for Crystal Palace and particularly for Strand Larsen, who will aim to demonstrate his impact against the club that nearly secured his signature months earlier.