In our exclusive interview, the former striker gives his thoughts on his former clubs, and looks ahead to the new season.
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What did you make of Glasner’s impact last season? Have Palace found themselves a top manager – especially after that attempt by Bayern Munich?
100 per cent, Crystal Palace have themselves a top manager. When you look at the calibre of a team like Bayern Munich and they’re trying to bring in a manager like Oliver Glasner, then it shows he’s made a big difference.
I think from where Palace were, he came in and, in the end, they managed to finish above Brighton in that top half of the table.
It was a fantastic end to the season and a lot of credit has to go to Glasner.
He’s a top manager, I speak with a lot of people at the football club, and they tell me he’s so intense and his training is too.
You just know he gets it, the players and staff get it, so everyone is singing from the same hymn sheet.
I think he’s been fantastic and I’m so glad Palace have managed to keep hold of him because when a club like Bayern Munich come knocking on the door, then you do start to worry.
But credit to him, he’s a top manager and I think Palace are in for another good season under him.
Ismaila Sarr has come in to replace Michael Olise – if he can bring his Watford form, can he do so successfully?
There’s not many who can replace Michael Olise, I think he’s a fantastic player.
I would have loved to see him stay in the Premier League, but Bayern Munich has got a snip there.
I was speaking to the chairman the other day and I was saying I couldn’t believe how cheap he’s gone with the transfer fee!
I know Olise is going to be a superstar, watching him at the Olympics at the moment he’s been fantastic for France with the goals and assists he’s producing.
He’s just an outstanding footballer, so Palace will miss him.
With Ismaila Sarr, Palace have been chasing him for years in fairness and I know Dougie Freedman is a big admirer of him.
I think he’ll be a good signing, and I hope he can reproduce that form that we saw from him at Watford, but I think it’s very hard to replace Olise because he’s an outstanding individual.
I always knew it would be hard for Palace to keep hold of him and money talks at the end of the day.
When a club like Bayern Munich comes along, the chance to win trophies, play in the Champions League and play with world class players like Harry Kane, then I think you have to go don’t you.
Do you think Olise can handle the move to Bayern Munich?
One million percent. The guy is full of confidence, the club asked me to hand out awards at the end of season and he’s just so laid back, which you see on the pitch.
He plays with freedom, as long as they let him produce what he can do and Vincent Kompany looks after him, then I think they’ve got a real player there.
He’s got the world at his feet; I think he can go and be one of the superstars of world football.
I rate him that highly, I think his left foot is a wand.
The only concern I have with him is the injuries, at Crystal Palace he had a lot of injuries but hopefully he can stay fit and have a fantastic season for Crystal Palace.
Ismaila Sarr, Chadi Riad and Daichi Kamada – what do you make of Palace’s signings? Does Glasner need more?
I think fans of any club and any manager would tell you they would like more.
The signings have been really good so far, I think they’re positive signings but the best signings for Palace will be keeping Eberechi Eze, Marc Guehi and Adam Wharton.
There will be lots of top clubs knocking at the door for those three, so I think they’ll be the best signings if they stay.
But I think Glasner will want a couple more additions, just to fill the squad up because you’ve got to have players when you’re coping with injuries, and Palace had a few last season.
Cheick Doucoure will feel like a new signing, he had a bad injury at the start of last season and at one point Liverpool were interested in him because he’s a brilliant midfielder.
I think they’re covered in most basis, but a couple of extra players wouldn’t hurt.
Not losing Guehi or Eze would be huge, you can’t lose both of those players.
I still think Palace would have a decent season, but when you have those two, then you’ll have a better season.
Wilfred Zaha has been linked with a potential loan move back to Crystal Palace. What would you make of his return?
That would be a good signing, Wilfred Zaha is Mr. Crystal Palace.
He’s loved and adored by everyone there, so if the club can get the opportunity to bring Zaha him back, then I think that’s a fantastic opportunity.
When you lose someone like Olise, Zaha is a perfect replacement because he knows the club inside out, he has plenty of ability and I think it would be a great move for both parties.
Usually when you go to a new club it takes time to adjust, it wouldn’t with Wilfred Zaha because Crystal Palace is his home.
For me, that’s a really good signing and hopefully it can happen.
What about Jean-Philippe Mateta’s development over the past 12 months? Has it surprised you? How good can he be and how important for Palace is it that he stays?
To be fair, he has been outstanding. Dougie Freedman said it to me, when Jean-Philippe Mateta gets a run of games, then he will be exceptional.
He had a tricky start because he was in and out of the team, any striker will tell you that you need a run of games to build up your momentum.
Odsonne Edouard was playing three games, then Mateta came in but then of a sudden along with Glasner arriving he made him the number one striker.
He hasn’t looked back since, he’s been fantastic, he’s a handful and he’s a big target man who can run in behind and score goals.
He’s like a complete centre forward who you want at the moment, so long may that continue.
Listen, there will be clubs knocking at the door if he keeps up the form, but I think it’s definitely one player they keep a hold of this season.
He’s flying at the moment, potentially returning to Palace with a gold medal, so he’ll be full of confidence.
Fair play to him, sometimes as centre forwards you gets judged on your goals and if you’re good enough.
He’s knuckled down, put the work in and now he’s showing his worth.
Speaking of which, will Palace miss Marc Guehi? What do Palace fans make of their captain now about to depart? Is Newcastle a good move for him?
Listen Newcastle United are a big football club and they’ve got a very good manager in Eddie Howe, so it would be a good move for him personally.
But I would love for him to stay at Crystal Palace for at least another year.
Football has changed massively these days; you don’t have to play for the top teams to be an England international.
Marc Guehi went to the Euros and was one of England’s stand out players when people were questioning whether he could step into Harry Maguire’s shoes.
I think he did that and more, he was brilliant alongside John Stones.
People forget he had an injury towards the back end of the season, came back in and was outstanding.
I can only speak so highly of him, he’s one of the nicest guys you’ll come across and when you speak to him, he’s such a humble guy.
He just wants to keep learning, wants to improve and wants to get better as a player, so the world is his oyster.
But please, another year at Palace then I would understand one of those top four teams coming knocking on the door.
If Newcastle pay Palace the money they want, then there’s always the chance he leaves, but I hope he stays because he’s a class act.
If Palace can keep hold of their best players and with the impact Glasner made, could they potentially be one of those teams to sneak in the top seven?
I said it last year and everyone laughed at me, but I’m saying it this year again.
I will admit I said it for this season when I thought Michael Olise would be here, but even with Olise going there’s a chance.
If Palace can keep this squad together and add in someone like a Wilfred Zaha as well as hopefully avoiding injuries in the season, then why not.
I don’t see any reason why Palace can’t sneak into there; they finished in the top half last season and they have a very good manager with some very talented young players.
There’s a good academy set up at the club, so why not.
No one thought Aston Villa would finish in the top four last season and Unai Emery did a fantastic job of making it happen.
So why can’t Glasner do that at Crystal Palace?
But they have to keep all of these players, they can’t lose Eze, Wharton or Guehi because it would be a struggle then.
If they can keep them and add extra to the squad then they’ve got a great opportunity because the manager for me is top class.
Danny Rohl made a huge impact at Sheffield Wednesday last season, what hopes do you have for your former club in 2024/25?
I have big hopes for them, I don’t think they’ll be fighting relegation that’s for sure like last season.
I think Danny Rohl is a fantastic young manager and watching him at the Euros, the way he speaks about football just pulls you in.
He’s someone you want to go and play football for; he’s really detailed and the job he did at Sheffield Wednesday last season was fantastic.
There was a lot of uncertainty at that football club, it was restless with the fans, but he’s managed to bring everyone together.
He’s added some new players into the squad this season who could have a real impact, so I don’t see them struggling this season.
You always get that one team who sneak into the top six, why can’t it be Sheffield Wednesday?
But they have to start the season well.
Yan Valery, Max Lowe, Jamal Lowe & Nathaniel Chalobah all arrive with experience in the Championship and higher, have you been impressed with the recruitment this summer?
I’ve definitely been impressed; they’ve brought in other players as well, but those guys are the standouts that have come through the door.
They’ve also kept the likes of Josh Windass, and you mix in the likes of Barry Bannan and Liam Palmer.
It’s a good blend of youth and experience to help some of those younger player’s cope.
Dominic Iorfa as well, if he can stay fit then they have a really good defender who’s a really good athlete as well.
I think Sheffield Wednesday will have a good season, but the recruitment has to be good in the Championship when you play twice a week for most of the season.
It can take it out of you, so you need a big squad to cope.
But they’ve got a great manager to take them into the season and I’ll be rooting for them.
Coventry City have managed to keep the core of their players this summer with the additions of Jack Rudoni and Brandon Thomas-Ansante, do you expect them to be challenging the playoffs again?
I think Coventry City can finish in the top six and I actually think they could go right to the top.
If you ask me now, I think they’re definitely capable of finishing in the top six.
Mark Robins is a brilliant manager, he goes under the radar, and I always say this when other jobs become available, why isn’t he considered.
Not that I want the Coventry fans to shout at me for saying that because I want Mark Robins to stay of course and try to get the club promoted.
But I always think when jobs are available, I just can’t believe he’s not linked to some of them.
Coventry lost Callum O’Hare but the addition of Jack Rudoni who is a good young player and has the same energy that will be missing with O’Hare gone.
Brandon Thomas-Ansante is a good signing and there’s still the likes of Kasey Palmer and Ellis Simms, who was fantastic.
Simms and Haji Wright were a brilliant combination, they complement each other so well.
There’s a lot of talent in that squad, so they’ve got a great chance.
The problem with Coventry is last season they didn’t start well at all and found themselves near the bottom.
They turned it around but that playoff push just came too late and that’s why they missed out.
This season, if they can start well then, I think they’ll secure that top six finish and that’s one team I’ll be rooting for.
Mark Robins has rebuilt Coventry since coming in, are you surprised there hasn’t been a club trying to tempt him away considering the job he’s done?
I’m definitely surprised because he’s done such a brilliant job there.
It does take time in football especially when you lose players, you have to take into account that they lost Viktor Gyokeres who’s now one of the best strikers around.
All the big clubs are looking at him because of his goalscoring record, but he started at Coventry where Mark Robins improved him.
Gustavo Hamer went to Sheffield United who was one of the best midfielders in the Championship, so you have to bring in replacements and adjust.
He’s got to look at the money available to him and the players who they have brought in have improved the team.
Ben Sheaf for example, he’s a fantastic footballer so there’s a lot of talent in that squad.
The credit must go to Mark Robins for the job he’s done and hopefully the club are playing Premier League football next season.
Leeds United have lost two of their mainstays from last season in Summerville and Archie Gray, without any obvious replacements do you worry for them in the early stages of the season?
It’s a difficult one because they are going to be missed.
Archie Gray played a lot at right-back but I think his best position will end up being in central midfield.
They’ve brought in Jaden Bogle who’s a good player, so he’s a natural replacement there.
I know Ethan Ampadu had a great partnership with Joe Roden, but he’s a player I feel can step into midfield and play that role comfortably.
That’s only if they bring in another centre-back, but I’d understand if Daniel Farke wanted to keep that partnership at the back.
I don’t worry about Leeds in all honesty, they’re my favourites to go up this season and I think they will add to the squad come the end of the transfer window.
The hurt of missing out last season will only help them this season and they still have some very good players in those attacking areas.
Crysencio Summerville is a fantastic player, he was the player of the season in the Championship, so it’s a brilliant addition for West Ham.
Despite that, I still make Leeds one of my favourites for the top two this season.
Jack Clarke has been linked with a move back to Leeds, would that be a good move and a move he would want?
Why not, Leeds United are a huge football club.
In saying that, Jack Clarke is already at a huge club in Sunderland, so he’ll have to weigh it up if he thinks he can get promoted with Sunderland because you never know.
I think Leeds are one of the favourites to go up, so it would make sense for him to want that move.
What Clarke has done for Sunderland since arriving has been amazing, the way he slows people down and goes past them makes him a very good winger.
Jesurun Rak-Sakyi is another option for Leeds, I’d love for him to stay at Crystal Palace but if it’s a loan move with game time, then I think it’s a great move for him.
He’s got so much ability and he’s been ripping it up in pre-season, so I would say those two are the best options for Leeds to be looking at.
If Leeds keep the likes of Wilfred Gnoto, Patrick Bamford, Georginio Rutter and Joel Piroe then they have so many players who can cause problems still.
Do you expect Summerville and Gray to feature heavily for West Ham and Tottenham Hotspur?
I think Gray will make that instant impact because he’s a fantastic young footballer.
The whole family has a lot of talented footballers and he’s younger brother has just signed a professional contract at Leeds, so it’s talented family.
I’ve watched a lot of him, and I think he’ll be a really good fit at Tottenham Hotspur.
Summerville might take a little bit of time to get into that West Ham United team because they do have the likes of Mohammad Kudos and Jarrod Bowen on both wings.
They’ve brought in Niclas Fulkrug as well from Borussia Dortmund who’s a fantastic striker for those guys to supply.
I think Summerville can cause problems and he is a Premier League player, but he’ll need time.
You can’t just go and walk in there sometimes because it’s not easy.
I think Julien Lopetegui is building a strong team there at West Ham and I would expect Summerville to make an impact at some point.
But Gray is the one I’m really looking forward to seeing how he copes in the Premier League.
What do you make of Steve Coogan playing Mick McCarthy in the upcoming film ‘Saipan’? Are there any obvious similarities between the pair? And would Coogan have been better than Mick at handling Roy Keane?
I’ll be honest, I don’t really know who Steve Coogan is because I’m not a big movie watcher!
Somebody did tweet me about it when the news broke, and I was being asked who would play Clinton Morrison in the film.
I think it’s hard to play Mick McCarthy, he’s got that big Yorkshire accent and he’s a big guy who you don’t really want to get on the wrong side of.
I’ll definitely be watching the film, and I wish him all the best trying to emulate Mick McCarthy because he was the one manager I was genuinely scared of.
So, if I’m scared of Mick and Steve Coogan can portray that in the film, then I would say he’s done a pretty good job.
It was a big incident at the time, are you interested to see how it plays out in the film?
I’m definitely interested how it’s going to be played out, obviously I was there and witnessed it all two seats away from Roy Keane, so I know the incident well.
I can’t wait for it to come out, I’ll be sitting there with my popcorn watching because I think it’ll be an interesting watch for people, especially for those who were there at the time.
I’d recommend people tune into it whenever it’s out.
Which actor would you like to see play Clinton Morrison in a film?
If anyone’s ever seen Rush Hour, I used to get called Chris Tucker because I’m lively, funny and like to have banter.
So he’s probably one who could play me just because I think he has that similar energy to myself.
If I’m going down the James Bond route, then it would have to be Idris Elba because my hairs going a bit grey, so the comparisons are there.
You never know, if the media doesn’t work out for me, then I could always go out there and give acting a go.
Which footballing story do you think most deserves to be made into a Hollywood movie?
The football story that I think deserves its own film, because I and many others didn’t give them a chance, was Leicester City winning the Premier League.
I did not think that would ever happen with all the top teams ahead of them and the fact they were nearly relegated the season before.
At the time you felt that they would run out of steam, and you’d be thinking they’ll get beat next week, but it never happened.
The likes of N’golo Kante, Riyad Mahrez and Jamie Vardy, Danny Drinkwater and Kasper Schmeichel; the list goes on and on, they were fantastic to be fair.
That would be the one for me because it was such an achievement, and I don’t think we’ll ever see something like it happen again.
When you’ve got the likes of Manchester City, Manchester United, Arsenal, Liverpool, Chelsea and so on.
For Leicester to win it amongst all them, it was by far the greatest story.
Listen if Palace managed to pull it off one day, then it would be the best for me and I could be involved.
I’d be bugging the chairman to get me involved if it happened.
But looking back on the best stories that have happened, I don’t think anything tops Leicester.