Leeds welcome Oliver Glasner to Elland Road for the first time on Saturday evening.
The Austrian is currently in a difficult spell with the FA Cup holders, having only just faced KuPS in the UEFA Conference League on Thursday while there is also a Carabao Cup clash against Arsenal on Tuesday night after the trip to Leeds.
Injuries are also mounting up – Crystal Palace are currently without Daniel Munoz, Daichi Kamada, Cheick Doucoure and Chadi Riad, while Ismaila Sarr has gone to the Africa Cup of Nations.
Despite these problems, Glasner still found time to single Dominic Calvert-Lewin out for praise while speaking in his press conference.
Oliver Glasner says Dominic Calvert-Lewin is “having a great time” at Leeds United right now
The England international has scored in each of his last four Premier League appearances, and was named by the 51-year-old as a potential threat in his press conference.
Answer this: Leeds United will finish in ___th place if Dominic Calvert-Lewin stays fit 📊
Six goals in five for the big man!
Glasner said: “I think we are one of the teams defending the crosses in the box very well with our centre backs who are very good at heading.
“We conceded one against Manchester City with (Erling) Haaland but we don’t give them, very often, free headers in our box, but sometimes you can’t and you have to defend the box. This is more or less the same with Calvert-Lewin. He is having a great time, and yes, we want to avoid the crosses.”
Two of Calvert-Lewin’s five Premier League goals so far this season have been headers, and superb ones at that.
The 28-year-old had no right to find the net with his head from way out during the 3-1 win at Wolves, while his effort last time out against Brentford was towering in every sense of the word.
Why Crystal Palace will be wary of Dominic Calvert-Lewin
Regardless of the year, some players just seem to have a knack of troubling certain clubs, as Crystal Palace fans know all too well when it comes to Calvert-Lewin, who Chris Sutton has praised in bizarre fashion.
Is DCL the best striker signing made by PL clubs this season? 💎
Calvert-Lewin compared to PL's new strikers
The Leeds No.9 has only scored more goals against Newcastle and West Ham than the south Londoners in his career so far, netting five in his 16 appearances against them with one assist to his name too.
From those 16 games, Calvert-Lewin, who Daniel Farke hailed, has won eight and drawn seven, losing just once.
With Leeds on a run of three games unbeaten, and the man born in Sheffield netting four in his last four outings, the warning signs are there for Crystal Palace ahead of Saturday evening’s clash.
Receive a digest of our best Leeds content each week direct to your mailbox
