Crystal Palace head coach Roy Hodgson has, on Friday, provided an update on the fitness of two key members of his squad.
Palace, of course, are currently in the process of putting the finishing touches on preparations for another crucial outing this weekend.
Fresh off a pair of back-to-back wins over Leicester City and Leeds United, the Eagles will make the trip to St. Mary’s, for a showdown with bottom-of-the-table Southampton.
Amid ongoing efforts to stave off relegation to the Championship, all associated with Palace, in turn, will no doubt be desperate for as many of the club’s stars as possible to be fit and ready to feature from the off tomorrow afternoon.
Two such players, however, who will remain unavailable for selection come in the form of Wilfried Zaha and Vicente Guaita.
Both Zaha and Guaita have been sidelined since earlier this month, after picking up respective injuries during the Eagles’ downing of Leicester.
“They’re both out on the field,” the tactician began. “Wilf was on the field today for the first or second time working reasonably gently with the physio and Vicente was out on the field today doing some light ball handling work with the goalkeeper coach. So that’s how well they progressed, but they are both suffering from strains.
“The MRI scan showed these were strains and we know the severity of that strain. We also know the danger if they get pushed back too quickly before that strain has really cleared up. It could cause problems for us. So I’ve got to rely on the medical department really on that one.”
Hodgson added:
“They’ve got to be following the advice because when they come back they want to be one hundred percent fit and not come back for a couple of days then find themselves out for an even longer period of time.
“The doctor said when they first got the scan results that they would be hoping for the end of April, for some sort of return. I haven’t seen any reason to doubt that at the moment.”“They’ve got to be following the advice because when they come back they want to be one hundred percent fit and not come back for a couple of days then find themselves out for an even longer period of time.
“The doctor said when they first got the scan results that they would be hoping for the end of April, for some sort of return. I haven’t seen any reason to doubt that at the moment.”
Wilfried Zaha back running outside already.
Hodgson says he has no reason to doubt initial prognosis of a return by the end of the month.
But given progress, if all goes well there’s a chance he could return early to face Everton or Wolves #CPFChttps://t.co/ocNGytKCms
— Matt Woosnam (@MattWoosie) April 14, 2023
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