No way it's because of this supposed premiership interest from palace. Ipswich wouldn't bench him as the first time he could leave would be in January and they would want to get every bit out of him before then. Obviously now below others in the pecking order. Maybe he got the hard word at the beginning of the season, with the gaffer telling him he wasn't impressed by his form last season and he would need to lift his game. perhaps this led him to having his year off?
If that was the case perhaps I sympathize with him a little more the before.