Crystal Palace face a tough test on Monday evening as they travel to Champions League chasing Leicester City.

The Eagles have only won one of their last six matches and come into the game off the back of a 4-1 thumping at the hands of Chelsea over two weeks ago.

It will certainly be a big ask for Roy Hodgson’s men to get back to winning ways at the King Power Stadium but their chances will certainly be bolstered by the inclusion of Tyrick Mitchell at left-back.

Having recently penned a new £28k per week contract at Selhurst Park, it is somewhat of a surprise to learn that the 21-year-old has not played a single minute of Premier League football since mid-February.

However, the statistics suggest that he should certainly have been afforded more opportunities.

Mitchell leads the Eagles in tackles per game in the Premier League this season with a huge 3.6 according to WhoScored, whilst he is only marginally beaten by fellow left-back Patrick van Aanholt on interceptions – 1.4 to 1.2.

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The youngster’s 2.5 clearances though sees him rank above the Dutch international. He also commits marginally fewer fouls per game than Van Aanholt – 0.5 to 0.6.

Whilst it could be argued that Palace would lose a considerable amount of attacking invention by including Mitchell at the expense of the former Sunderland man, his added defensive solidarity would surely be more crucial in getting a result against high-flying Leicester.

After all, only Manchester City and Manchester United have scored more goals than Brendan Rodgers’ men this season.

Either faced up against Timothy Castagne or Ricardo Pereira down the Leicester right, Mitchell’s defensive numbers suggest that he would be better equipped to deal with the respective threats of the Foxes’ wing-backs than Van Aanholt.

Hailed as “exciting” in the past by Palace defender Gary Cahill, Hodgson simply has to include Mitchell at the King Power Stadium if the Eagles are to pass what is surely going to be a tough test.

AND in more news, the Eagles have been handed a massive boost over the future of the managerial hotseat at Selhurst Park...