Crystal Palace could be without two key players against Arsenal next Monday, with Wilfried Zaha and Michael Olise both injury doubts.
Both Wilfried Zaha and Michael Olise had to miss international fixtures over the break due to injury problems.
Zaha has a hamstring issue, and his Ivory Coast coach said it’s either a grade one or a grade two hamstring injury.
If it’s a grade two, there’s no chance he’ll play against Arsenal on Monday, but grade one would at least give him a chance and Patrick Vieira is optimistic he will be fit.
Zaha has been undergoing treatment on the injury back with Crystal Palace, missing Tuesday’s game between the Ivory Coast and England at Wembley.
Speaking before Monday’s game, Vieira said, “He is still in the medical room and we will see how he is tomorrow.
“We have until Monday, so hopefully he will get better and he can have a couple of training sessions with the team.
“But we have to wait and see how he is tomorrow and what happens over the next couple of days.
“We don’t know if it is a long-term problem, but the good thing about Wilfried is that he doesn’t get injured too often.”
As for Olise, he withdrew from the France u21s with a foot inflammation.
Speaking about that injury, Vieira said, “He had an issue with his foot and he is still in the treatment room, too. He is not ready to work outside so the same applies to him as with Wilfried.
“We have to evaluate day-after-day, see how he is feeling and then we will see. Both of them still have a chance.”
Crystal Palace are in excellent form at the moment. They’ve only lost one match in the last two months, and it took an 89th-minute winner from Chelsea to inflict that sole defeat.
Other recent results include a 0-0 draw with league leaders Manchester City, a 2-0 win over European hopefuls Wolves, and most recently a 4-0 thrashing of Everton.
With Zaha making 24 Premier League appearances this season and Olise making 22, it’s clear that their absence would have an impact on Palace. But it’s going to be a tough away game either way.