Patrick Vieira believes that "it is a good time for a break", as the Frenchman prepares for five weeks off after the match against Nottingham Forest.

Crystal Palace will not play again until Boxing Day, when they host Fulham at Selhurst Park. The Eagles currently sit tenth in the league after thirteen matches. However, Vieira will be hoping his side can finish the month on a high against Nottingham Forest.

The Arsenal legend confirmed that Odsonne Edouard trained on Friday morning and will travel with the squad, but he may not feature. However, James McArthur, Nathan Ferguson and Chris Richards will miss the match through injury.

  • Preparing for the break

The Premier League season has been in uncertain times this season. Due to the first ever winter World Cup, the top tier of English football will have a break to work around the biggest competition in the world. This allows Vieira to reevaluate and prepare for the challenging upcoming matches until the end of the season.

The Frenchman believes the break comes at a good point for his side, and he is looking forward to it.

He said: “I will say it is a good time for a break. I think it’s always important to recharge the batteries and go again. The players will have a couple of weeks off and a mini pre-season before getting ready for the Fulham game."

“I’m looking forward to it, like the players and staff. We will take the break to reflect on the first part of the season."

“The progress has been good. When you look at the pre-season we had with two groups and those group of players played only one game before starting… looking at where we are today, I’m pleased with that."

“The players are improving well and it’s important for me and my staff to keep being demanding of them, keep challenging them and trying to win football matches.”

  • Guehi's disappointment

Marc Guehi has been sensational for Crystal Palace ever since he arrived from Chelsea last summer. The defender received his first England call-up in March for the friendlies against Switzerland and Ivory Coast. 

It was a special moment for the centre-back, however Guehi was not able to force his way into Gareth Southgate's plans for the World Cup in Qatar.

Vieira was disappointed for him, but believes he will feature regularly for England in the future.

He said: “I had a brief conversation with Marc. Of course for players like him who want to be there at the top and represent their country, to not be part of the 26 players is a disappointment, yes. I can say that. But this is his objective and he still has time to play in the next World Cup or Euros."

“He’s an ambitious player who wants the best for himself and wants to represent his country. He’s been working well, really hard. When you look at his performances for us in the year and a half I’ve been here it’s been really consistent and good. He just has to keep working like that and he will get a time to play in a World Cup and get a chance to represent his country."

“Marc will wish England the very best, no doubt about that. He knows what he has to do to have a chance to go to the international level. Working with him and knowing him really well, I have no doubts he’ll represent his country in the near future… It’s just a question of time before he’ll be an England player [at a major tournament].”

Vieira was lucky enough to win the World Cup in 1998 with his French teammates. It was a special moment for the midfielder, who was used as a substitute in the final. 

The World Cup is the pinnacle of football, and it is a trophy England have been striving to win again ever since 1966.

Vieira does not rank the Three Lions as favourites, but he does believe they have an outside chance.

He stated: "I don’t think England are part of the favourites but as an outsider they can surprise teams. Let’s wait and see."

“I will say the team to beat will be France because of the attacking threat they have up front. Brazil, Argentina, the Germans, are always present in big competitions. Those four nations are for me the favourites.”