Crystal Palace’s Eberechi Eze will miss the Premier League game with Arsenal on Saturday through injury, manager Oliver Glasner has confirmed.
Eze sustained the injury in Palace’s 3-1 victory over arch rivals Brighton & Hove Albion on Sunday but was substituted after an hour with a swollen foot.
Despite that, after a decision was made on Tuesday about his fitness, the 26-year-old started the 3-2 defeat by Arsenal in the Carabao Cup on Wednesday night, where he was replaced after 59 minutes.
But now he will miss the Premier League fixture at Selhurst Park on Saturday with that same injury although Glasner says he is expected to return for the away fixture with Bournemouth on Boxing Day.
“Ebs is not available,” Glasner said in his pre-match press conference. “He still has (pain from) the hit against Brighton on his foot . He’s not 100 per cent and we need every player 100 per cent so we decided he will have a rest.
“Hopefully he will be available for Bournemouth. It doesn’t look serious but you have to kick the ball and if it is always painful, then you are not free. You always feel pain when you move and If you’re thinking too much about this you can’t play how you can (normally) play.
“We need the best Eberechi Eze he can be and therefore he has to be fit like all the other players.”
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Eze missed three games in November due to a hamstring injury picked up in the 2-1 Carabao Cup fourth round win over Aston Villa at the end of October, and has yet to play 90 minutes in the five subsequent fixtures since returning in a 1-1 draw with Newcastle United.
He has just one goal and two assists from 13 Premier League games this season.
Eddie Nketiah may be given the chance to start against his former club after a goal and an impressive substitute performance in the cup game on Wednesday, although he will compete for a place with youngster Justin Devenny and Daichi Kamada, who has recently returned from suspension and who has also performed well from the bench.
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(Top image: Eddie Keogh/Getty Images)
