Rob Holding’s career has hit a new nadir just over a year since his departure from Arsenal to join Crystal Palace. The 29-year-old, who secured a £4million move from the Gunners last year, has since been benched for the most part, only showing up once in a 3-0 Carabao Cup thrashing by Manchester United.
Ever since, Holding has languished on the sidelines, failing to feature in a single Premier League match. This season’s sole nod came as an unused sub in a defeat at the hands of West Ham.
Holding’s future at Selhurst Park appears ever more uncertain following his conspicuous absence from the team’s photo, which comprised 48 individuals from both the men’s and women’s squads. Given that Holding had made Palace’s Premier League squad list, there’s growing speculation that he might be cut from any playing duties.
Eagles manager Oliver Glasner remains tight-lipped about Holding’s individual training apart from the first team, offering no clarity on the reason for his exclusion, but confirming that Holding is privy to the cause a detail kept from the public eye.
Glasner mentioned: “Rob (Holding) is training individually at the moment. We will talk together. He knows the reason, but it is something that stays between me and Rob. Nothing public.”
The Athletic reports that Rob Holding’s absence from the Crystal Palace first team is due to a disagreement with manager Glasner following a defeat to West Ham. The defender was reportedly ordered to participate in a post-match running session, which he initially resisted due to injury concerns.
Rob Holding during a pre-season friendly. (Image: Getty)
Despite eventually participating, Glasner immediately relegated him to train with the Under-23s.
Holding has been training with the youth team ever since and even started for them in a 3-1 victory over Gillingham in the EFL Trophy on Tuesday, playing alongside 17-year-old Mofe Jemide.
