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Now England have confirmed their place at the 2014 World Cup, a certain warming glow underpins the domestic football season. From now until May, almost every match will have an international subtext. This game between Crystal Palace and Arsenal will see Jack Wilshere under the microscope – his failure to break into Roy Hodgson’s starting line-up for the games against Montenegro and Poland will have concerned him in the light of his slightly lukewarm start to the season.
This World Cup focus may, however, be lost on Palace whose season, even at this early stage, looks likely to develop into the frantic survival scramble that most people predicted. Tomorrow, look out for a truly Super Sunday featuring the always-lively Wearside derby and a potentially pivotal clash between Chelsea and Manchester City.