Wolves boost as Crystal Palace dealt triple injury blow

Crystal Palace could be without their key talisman Eberechi Eze for their trip to Wolves in the Premier League on Saturday.

The Eagles beat Wolves' West Midlands rivals Aston Villa to progress to the quarter-finals of the Carabao Cup but it may have come at a cost. Eze opened the scoring in the eighth minute, but then 10 minutes later had to be withdrawn from the action, and replaced by Daichi Kamada due to a suspected hamstring injury.

He made the decision himself to come off, signalling up to Oliver Glasner and the medical staff that he could no longer continue so early on in to the match. Eze’s early withdrawal has casted a doubt over whether he’ll be available for the trip to Molineux this weekend, and his potential absence would of course some as a boost to Wolves, who wouldn’t have to contend with a player of his quality.

“Ebs is too early,” said Glasner to the South London Press when asked if he would be an injury concern for this weekend's clash.

“He wanted to [come off]. He signalled to us. He said it wasn’t possible to continue.

“I hope that it’s not too serious but I don’t know. It’s not the best information that I got today that Ebs had to leave the pitch.”

The 26-year-old attacking midfielder has three goals and two assists from 11 appearances across all competitions this season. Last term, he had 11 goals and six assists for Palace, and that earned him a place in England's EURO 2024 squad.

Eze’s club and international teammate Adam Wharton also had to make way against Villa. Jeffrey Shlupp replaced him in the 27th minute, and before the match it was revealed that he was nursing a groin injury, that would potentially need surgery.

Wharton has been given a run of three games against Spurs, Villa, and potentially Wolves, and then Palace will decide whether the problem needs to be addressed. His early departure from the action at Villa Park appears to be the same problem, and so at least they know it’s not a new issue to cotend with.

“With Adam, I’m very positive because it’s nothing new,” added Glasner.

“I have spoken about it many times – he’s had this groin problem for months.

“We thought that needed a break today but yesterday he gave me the thumbs up that he was fine.”

Palace are expected to be without Jefferson Lerma at least until the international break. Lerma picked up a hamstring injury against Spurs, and he will now sit out the next two matches.