Crystal Palace winger Michael Olise is reportedly out for up to two months after suffering a knee injury in Saturday’s 4-1 defeat to Brighton and Hove Albion.
Key centre-back Marc Guehi is also expected to miss the next few weeks at Palace after being forced off in the first half at the Amex at the weekend.
Manager Roy Hodgson is still in deep trouble after losing his job following a heavy defeat at the hands of the club and their rivals which puts them in a relegation battle.
Palace are currently in 14th place, just five points above the relegation zone, and have won just two of their last 14 matches in all competitions.
Despite being 3-0 down at the weekend, Olise was introduced from the bench at half-time but lasted just nine minutes before being replaced with a lingering hamstring problem.
Hodgson came in for huge criticism for risking a player who wasn’t fit enough to start a game that was beyond them in terms of points at the time.
The Daily Mail claim that Olis will be sidelined for around 6-8 weeks to recover from a recurrence of the problem.
The big concern is that Olise’s extension could be even longer depending on how his rehabilitation goes, meaning he could not return until very late in the season.
Oliseand’s importance was shown in their win against Sheffield United last midweek when he scored and set up two more in the Blades’ 3-2 win.
However, the Frenchman lasted just 68 minutes before being substituted as his hamstring discomfort forced a stoppage and put Brighton in doubt, but he was considered fit enough to make the bench.
Hodgson expressed doubt that he was to blame for Olise suffering another setback shortly after the defeat.
“I was told that he would not be able to start the game, some were very happy about that, but I was told and he told me that he was fine on the bench and to play the second half.
“Unfortunately, I don’t have a crystal ball and I didn’t know that this would lead to a recurrence of his injury”said Hodgson.
Olise has played just 11 times for the Eagles this season after four months and most of January before the season opener. The Sheffield United win was his only start in 2024.
There was also more bad news for the Palace faithful as an update was released on the extent of Guehi’s injury.
The England international has picked up a knee strain, but although it is believed to be less serious than Olise’s,he will miss the next few weeks.
Palace are back in action next Monday when they welcome Londoners Chelsea to the Premier League’s Selhurst Park, where Hodgson could be without another key player in Eberech Eze, who is a doubt..
