YANNICK Bolasie says Palace have enough to cope with him and Mile Jedinak in January, when both play for their countries in international tournaments.
Bolasie is set to take part in the African Cup of Nations, while Jedinak will skipper Australia on home soil in the Asian Cup, kicking off on Friday, January 9.
It's a long way from the days of playing for Bristol City and Plymouth Argyle for Bolasie, who is now terrorising Premier League defences week in, week out.
"I feel like I'm improving all the time," Bolasie exclusively told the Advertiser.
"I am getting calmer in the final third and finding a lot of my team-mates. I am now getting results from that.
"Getting two goals for my country recently was special and also qualifying for the African Cup of Nations.
"It now means I might not be here to play for Palace in January but it is a tournament I was to play in as well, so it's a double-barrelled sword in a way.
"We still have a lot of players who can step in. James McArthur can come in and Joe Ledley's doing well, then we've got Wilf (Zaha) too on the wing.
"Let's not forget that the squad is good enough to cope."
Reflecting on last Sunday's impressive win over Liverpool, Bolasie revealed that some wise words from the senior players in the starting XI kept Palace believing.
That was evident, as it wasn't long after Rickie Lambert's goal after just two minutes that Dwight Gayle equalised – and Bolasie was "buzzing" for the frontman.
"When they scored an early goal, it starts to run through your head it could be long afternoon but we had leaders out there," he said.
"Mile Jedinak and Damien Delaney told everyone to keep calm and we managed to get a goal back not too long after.
"Gayley's a top striker, I was buzzing for him. I like it when he scores because we he does, he deserves it and he does well.
"He's had to wait because Fraizer has been doing well too. The competition in squad is really healthy and if you're not up for it, someone else is.
"Moving forward, that's the way it is. It was a great performance from the team and good to rectify what happened last season, to win it this time.
"We will need to dig deep again against Swansea and Aston Villa, but the win against Liverpool has given us confidence."
This full interview featured in Friday's Croydon Advertiser.
By Mark Ritson (Twitter @MR_LWMedia)
