Crystal Palace winger Michael Olise has reportedly been ruled out for up to two months after picking up another hamstring injury in their 4-1 defeat to Brighton & Hove Albion on Saturday.
Key central defender Marc Guehi is also set to miss the next few weeks for Palace after he was forced off in the first half at the Amex Stadium over the weekend.
Manager Roy Hodgson remains in big trouble of losing his job following the heavy defeat to the club's rivals, which leaves them embroiled in a relegation battle.
Palace currently sit 14th, just five points above the Premier League relegation zone, on a run of form which has seen them win just two of their last 14 games across all competitions.
While 3-0 down at the weekend, Olise was introduced off the bench at half time, but lasted just nine minutes before having to be replaced with a lingering hamstring issue.
Hodgson received huge criticism for risking a player that was not fit enough to start in a game that was all but beyond them given the scoreline at the time.
The Daily Mail claim that Olise is now facing a spell of around six to eight weeks on the sidelines as he recovers from the recurrence of the issue.
The big concern is that Olise's time out could be even longer depending on how his rehabilitation goes, meaning that he may not return until very late in the season.
Olise's importance was illustrated in their win over Sheffield United last midweek, as he scored and set up a further two in a 3-2 win over the Blades.
However, the Frenchman lasted just 68 minutes before being replaced, citing discomfort in his hamstring as a need to be withdrawn, and leaving him as a doubt for the Brighton game, but he was deemed fit enough for a place on the bench.
Hodgson rebuked claims that the blame lies with him over Olise suffering another setback in the immediate aftermath of the defeat.
"I was told he couldn't start the game, everyone was quite comfortable with that, but they told me, and he told me, he was fine to be on the bench and to play in the second half.
"Unfortunately I don't have a crystal ball and I wasn't to know that would lead to a recurrence of his injury." Hodgson said.
Olise has played just 11 times for the Eagles this season, after he missed the opening four months of the season, as well as much of January, with the Sheffield United win being his only start of 2024.
Further bad news has arrived for the Palace faithful too, as an update has been issued on the extent of Guehi's injury.
The England international suffered a hyperextension of the knee, but while it is thought it is less serious than Olise's setback, he is still set to miss the next few weeks.
Palace return to action next Monday when they welcome fellow out-of-form London club Chelsea to Selhurst Park in the Premier League, where Hodgson could also be without another key player in the form of Eberechi Eze, who is doubtful. body check tags ::
