Crystal Palace correspondent Matt Woosnam says he would be stunned if Patrick Vieira selected Odsonne Edouard on the flanks against Brighton and Hove Albion on Monday night, tipping the summer signing to potentially start in a front two instead. 

The lowdown

Edouard has yet to start a game for the Eagles following his Deadline Day move from Celtic.

He made his first appearance as a substitute against Tottenham Hotspur earlier this month and scored twice in the final 10 minutes.

The Frenchman became the first player to bag a brace off the bench on their Premier League debut since Sergio Aguero in August 2011 (via Opta Joe).

But Patrick Vieira stuck with Christian Benteke up top for the visit to Liverpool the following week, turning to Edouard after 65 minutes.

Palace face rivals Brighton on Monday night as they look to climb to 12th in the early Premier League table. Edouard will be hopeful of making a full debut for his new club.

The latest

A Palace supporter suggested that Vieira might consider swapping out Jordan Ayew for Edouard, who would then line up at right wing with Wilfried Zaha on the left and Benteke through the middle.

"I'd be amazed," Woosnam replied in The Athletic's discussion board, "to see Edouard on the right or left for a game like this."

If Edouard and Benteke are to play together, he thinks it will be as part of a front two.

The verdict

Brighton's big back three seem like they would be comfortable dealing with the aerial threat posed by Benteke, but Edouard would ask altogether different questions with his movement, so there's a strong case for him starting on Monday night.

Vieira may be exercising patience, but you can understand why many Palace fans might be clamouring for Edouard after that spectacular debut.

And, if the manager does go for broke and start both of his main goalscorers, one would have to assume Woosnam's front two prediction is more likely than playing the big summer arrival out of his natural position.

In other news, read this pundit's verdict on a potential attacking signing for Palace.