Crystal Palace boss Roy Hodgson has revealed that centre-back Mamadou Sakho is to return to light training after a layoff with injury.

Sakho has missed a number of crucial games for the Eagles as they aim to avoid the drop this season, although Hodgson has now stated ahead of the club's clash with Chelsea that the towering defender is due to resume light work with the rest of the squad.

"Mamadou Sakho will join in with the team tomorrow (Friday), they tell me, on that light training session," said Hodgson, according to the Croydon Advertiser. "He's not been with us for weeks now, it seems like months.

"We'll see how he feels. It would be unrealistic for him to start the game. But if he's physically fit medically and mechanically, there's no reason he couldn't be involved in the game."

Palace currently find themselves in the bottom three, but they do still remain just three points off 13th place in the Premier League standings.