By Andy McSteen

Neil Warnock has questioned why the international break went on for so long after Yannick Bolasie only made it back to training yesterday morning.

The Congo international came off the bench in the second half to replace Wilfried Zaha but his preparations for today’s 0-0 draw with Burnley were far from ideal after such an epic journey back to England.

And he wasn’t the only Palace team-mate who has been busy on his travels as Australian captain Mile Jedinak, who conceded a late penalty which was saved by Julian Speroni, represented his country in London and Belgium over the past two weeks.

Warnock said: “It’s been great that we’ve had a bit of time to work together

“But we lost seven-eight players and it’s a disgrace that Yannick Bolasie comes back at 10 o’clock on a Friday morning.

“Surely the internationals weren’t meant to come back two weeks after going away? 

“It’s been disappointing to have an international break and we didn’t get chance to work on certain other things with the lads being away.

“But I thought they were super today - the Burnleys are going to be our most difficult games.

“If we had got a goal in the first half when we had some very good chances then the game opens up and it’s very different, but the longer you go you always risk doing what we did and then only a good save by Julian got us a point.

“So it was a good point in the end but a bit of a disappointment that we didn’t get three, but I felt the same at Newcastle as I was disappointed we didn’t get three and yet we got a late equaliser.”

Other players away on international duty included Barry Bannan for Scotland and Joe Ledley for Wales.

Both did not feature against Burnley, but for different reasons as Palace named one of their strongest benches in recent seasons.

Warnock explained: “I was going to bring Ledley on but he got injured in the dugout.

“I don’t know how that happened but he felt his hips and his side and he didn’t feel right, so I couldn’t put him on.

“Even when Mile got a knock late on he knew that Ledley was struggling, but he’s a typical Australian and wants to carry on.

“You could see he wasn’t himself after the knock and it did slow him down a bit but he’ll be alright for next week. He’s made of stern stuff.”

The boss added: “I thought Kevin Doyle and young Jonny Williams did alright (coming off of the bench).

“Jonny was full of enthusiasm and we tried to be positive with the subs.

“I thought Bannan did well for Scotland but I just fancied Jonny today to play.”

Warnock hailed keeper Speroni after his magnificent late penalty save secured Crystal Palace a point in the 0-0 draw against the newly-promoted Clarets.

The SE25 manager took charge of his first game back at Selhurst Park following his return to the hot-seat for a second spell and named an attacking side, which included the home return of another former Eagle Wilfried Zaha.

But despite Palace creating numerous chances, the hero of the day was the Argentinean stopper Speroni who kept out Scott Arfield’s 85th minute spot-kick after Jedinak had fouled Lukas Jutkiewicz.

“I think they broke the mould with him,” said Warnock in reference to his veteran keeper.

“He’s just a one-off but he does that every week and that’s why he’s been here so long with us. He’s a gem of a person.”

Follow us on Twitter @NewsShopperSprt