Alan Pardew hopes Crystal Palace can benefit from Wales' Euro 2016 qualification
Alan Pardew believes that Crystal Palace can benefit from Wales' qualification for Euro 2016.
The Eagles on Saturday host West Ham, who Pardew managed from 2003 until 2006, and after watching Wayne Hennessey and Joe Ledley help inspire Wales to their first international tournament since 1958, Pardew is optimistic they can benefit from the positivity they now bring.
"It does, a little bit," Pardew responded when asked if Wales' success was having a beneficial effect on his squad.
"We're bored of them already, going on and on about it!
"But other than that it was really pleasing for them, because they've been an integral part of it (Wales' qualification), particularly Wayne and Joe. A lot of heart and effort went into that.
"Their psychology is obviously very, very good at the moment, they feel very confident and very good about themselves, so that's all good for me."
Pardew has also been boosted by the return to fitness of midfielders Mile Jedinak, Lee Chung-yong and Jordon Mutch, and defender Damien Delaney, for Saturday's fixture against another Premier League team with similar ambitions - a desire to qualify for Europe next season - to Palace.
The manager is, however, still without injured strikers Connor Wickham and Marouane Chamakh, respectively owing to calf and hamstring injuries.
West Ham can welcome back Andy Carroll, Enner Valencia and Angelo Ogbonna for the trip.
Carroll has recovered from the knock which kept him out of the draw at Sunderland a fortnight ago, fellow forward Valencia is over the knee injury he suffered on Europa League duty in July - although he is short of match fitness - and centre-half Ogbonna is fit after a hamstring problem.
Defenders Winston Reid and Aaron Cresswell hope to shake off minor niggles, but midfielder Alex Song (ankle) is three weeks away from returning.
West Ham boss Slaven Bilic is weighing up whether to unleash Valencia at Crystal Palace on Saturday.
The Ecuadorian forward has been sidelined since suffering a knee injury in a Europa League qualifying tie in July, and has played just 20 minutes in a practice match since returning to training.
Bilic admits Valencia needs a couple of weeks before he is fully match fit, but revealed the 25-year-old's performances on the training pitch have put him in consideration for the trip to Selhurst Park.
"Valencia has been out since late July, it was a long break but he is back and it's a great thing for us," said Bilic.
"He's one of our biggest weapons on the pitch. He's looking sharp and very good. Now it is just a matter of fitness and slowly getting him in shape to be fit.
"He's been with us for one week now, but not for every day. He played 20 minutes against Reading in the practice match and looked really well. But he still needs a couple of weeks.
"He's not in contention - but then when I see him on the training ground I think 'maybe Saturday'. He's one of those who makes you think."
The Hammers make the short trip to south London in sixth spot, but Bilic admits the international break may have upset the momentum created by their encouraging start to the season.
Palace are a point and two places ahead in fourth, and Bilic knows he will have to keep French playmaker Yohan Cabaye quiet if his side are to pick up a fourth win on the road this term.
"Palace are a good team, they are good in everything - defending, contacts, counter attacks," he added.
"They also have Cabaye who can do special things on the pitch. They are doing really, really good. It's a London derby, it's a great game and it will be an extremely difficult test.
"You can't stop players losing momentum. You can try to press a pause button but then to restart it when they come back...even on the best DVDs when you press pause, you can't make a meal.
"Maybe you can make a sandwich, but then after one minute it automatically starts again and you have to rush back. We have to restart it again and I hope we can do it."
Source: PAR
