Crystal Palace manager Oliver Glasner has delivered a mixed injury update ahead of Sunday's Premier League clash with West Ham United at Selhurst Park.
The Eagles enter this contest in buoyant mood after they secured a hard-fought 1-0 victory over title hopefuls Liverpool at Anfield last weekend, ending a five-game run without a win in the top flight.
Midfielder Jefferson Lerma has been tasked with playing as a central defender in recent weeks and was a standout performer in the Palace back three that admirably kept a clean sheet against the Reds - just their second shutout since the turn of the year.
The Colombian has started 30 games in his debut season for the Eagles across all competitions, but Glasner has confirmed that he will not be available for selection on Sunday.
Glasner has also revealed that three other players have emerged as injury doubts and will undergo late fitness tests ahead of kickoff.
Lerma ruled out, Richards, Ward, Hughes to be assessed
Providing an update on his squad at a press conference on Friday, Glasner said: "We have one player injured from the Liverpool game, and that is Jefferson Lerma.
"We will miss him for at least until Manchester United [on May 6], so for this week where we have three games in six or seven days.
"We have three question marks. Chris Richards - it was the first time he trained with us today, but it was a very easy session, so him.
"Then we have Joel Ward, who also had issues this week with his groin so we will see tomorrow, and Will Hughes got a knock yesterday in training, so he couldn't train today.
"So it is three players we will take the final decision on tomorrow. That is it, nobody else is coming back."
Rob Holding available for selection
On a positive note, Glasner has confirmed that Rob Holding "will be in the squad" to face West Ham after recovering from a long-term ankle injury that has kept his sidelined for the majority of this season.
Holding was signed by the Eagles from Arsenal last summer but has only made one first-team appearance this term – playing the full 90 minutes in an EFL Cup defeat at Man United in September last year.
"I am pleased that Rob Holding is back. He trained for the whole week with us and he will be in the squad," said Glasner.
It remains to be seen whether Holding is fit to start on Sunday, but the absence of Lerma opens the door for the 28-year-old to make his league debut for the Eagles.
Joachim Andersen and James Tomkins are Palace's only other fit senior centre-backs, and the former is expected to retain his place in the first XI, while Nathaniel Clyne could also keep his spot in the back three.
Palace, who have won two of their last three meetings with West Ham, currently sit 14th in the Premier League table, eight points above the relegation zone with a game in hand on 18th-placed Luton Town. body check tags ::
