Having been injured at the start of the season, the return of midfielder Michael Olise could be the catalyst for improving Crystal Palace's form this term, says South London Press' Edmund Brack.

Olise has made just six starts this season but has already netted three goals, one of which was a late equaliser against Manchester City at Etihad Stadium.

Crystal Palace are 15th in the Premier League table, with 18 points from their 19 games so far. What have you made of the first half of the season?

It has been an interesting one. If you look at the season as a whole, the word that springs to mind is injuries.

Roy Hodgson took the job again in the summer, but if you told him Eberechi Eze and Michael Olise would only be able to start two league games together by this point, he probably would have thought twice about taking it!

They also lost Cheick Doucouré for six months to a ruptured Achilles and players have been picking up hamstring injuries across the board.

There have been some positives: Odsonne Edouard and Jean-Philippe Mateta have found form in front of goal but, in terms of a creative outlet, it has been really tough.

Olise suffered a hamstring injury at the start of the campaign that required surgery and he is only just returning to full fitness.

Crystal Palace have not been able to put out their best XI once this season, which tells you all you need to know about where the squad has been. Recruitment was not necessarily the best over the summer either, so it has been a tough season so far.

Crystal Palace have won just once in the league since October but, with the injuries in mind, do you think there is less pressure on Roy Hodgson than there might otherwise have been?

It depends on which vantage point you are looking at it from. There is a general apathy around Crystal Palace in terms of the lack of spending and the fact it might not be the squad people hoped for.

In the summer, they lost Wilfried Zaha and failed to replace him, so there was always going to be that step back in the squad and some people recognise that, but some fans might point towards the style of football.

Personally, I think Hodgson has produced some of the best football I have seen at Palace in the years I have been supporting and reporting on them. It is a game of opinions, and people have different opinions on that but, from my point of view, I would not necessarily say Hodgson is under extreme pressure.

If you look at the games against Liverpool and Manchester City, barring a Jordan Ayew red card, they were looking at taking points from both of those games. The way he masterminds getting the best out of this squad is quite incredible sometimes.

Two days after this game, the January transfer window swings open. Where will Palace be looking to strengthen?

They need a new centre-midfielder after Doucouré suffered an injury at Luton that looks like it will keep him out for the rest of the season.

18-year-old academy midfielder David Ozoh came on as a first-half substitute against City and delivered a sensational performance, but they are still going to be looking to strengthen in that area.

They need wide support on the left as well, whether that is a left-back or further forward. Matheus Franca was brought in over the summer and had a very bright cameo against City but, other than that, his game time has been very limited and he is still adapting to the Premier League.

It is incredible that Tyrick Mitchell manages to play week in, week out, but he has not really got any full-back cover.

Which player should Brentford fans keep an eye on?

Michael Olise. I think I have said him every time you have asked me this question! He has stepped up a level this season - if that is even possible.

It feels like he is taking Premier League games by the scruff of the neck at the moment and that goal against Luton was breathtaking - it was like watching Zaha.

He is a phenomenal talent, destined for greater things than Crystal Palace. Enjoy him while he is still playing here is my message.

How is Roy Hodgson likely to set up at Selhurst Park on Saturday?

In terms of formation, it will be a 4-1-2-3, but it switches to a 4-5-1 in defence.

Eze recovered from ankle ligament damage he picked up against Luton in a swifter manner than he thought, so he and Olise should be starting Premier League games consistently by this meeting.

The real battle will be between Edouard and Mateta. The latter has found some real form in front of goal of late and delivered, arguably, one of his best performances in a Palace shirt against Manchester City, so there is no guarantee that Edouard will come back into the starting line-up.

It is the same with the goalkeeping position as well; Dean Henderson was phenomenal against City and possession is going to be nine-tenths of the law when it comes to that no.1 shirt. I do not think either he or Sam Johnstone are going to lose it because of poor performances; it will be purely down to injuries. At the moment, it is Henderson’s to lose.

Each one of the last five meetings has ended in a draw, the last three with a 1-1 scoreline. What’s your score prediction?

I think it will be a draw - it always is! I’m going for 0-0.