Crystal Palace manager Patrick Vieira has been handed a huge injury boost ahead of Monday night’s Premier League clash against his former club Arsenal.
Michael Olise was forced to withdraw from international duty with the France U21 side with inflammation on his foot. It was reported in midweek that the 20-year-old possibly picked up a hamstring injury but Vieira denied that was the case.
Wilfried Zaha also picked up an injury while away with the Ivory Coast senior side and was left out of the squad for their 3-0 loss to England on Tuesday night.
After the match, Elephants manager Patrice Beaumelle said that the 29-year-old Palace forward had suffered a grade one or two hamstring injury in the 2-1 loss to France before their trip to Wembley.
Zaha has scored 10 goals in all competitions this season under Vieira, and Olise has 12 goal contributions in his debut season for the South Londoners.
“He is still in the medical room,” Vieira said of Zaha’s injury.
“We will see how it is going to be tomorrow, but we have to wait for the next couple of days before we think about him starting training with the squad.
“We will wait and see what happens. We have until Monday, so hopefully he will get better, and he can have a couple of days of training with the team. We have to wait and see what will happen over the next couple of days.
“The good thing about Wilfried is that he does not get injured very often – that is the hope about that. We just have to wait and see day after day.”
Asked about Olise’s injury, Vieira said: “He just had an issue with his foot.
“He is still in the treatment room as well – he is not ready to do some work outside.
“We have to wait day after day and see how he is feeling, and then we will see.
“Both of them still have a chance [of playing against Arsenal].”
Vieira also confirmed that James McArthur and Nathan Ferguson have begun training with the first-team squad ahead of the game at Selhurst Park against the north Londoners.
Ferguson, who picked up a hamstring injury in a behind-closed-doors friendly against Portsmouth, has only played eight minutes of Premier League football for the club since signing from West Brom in July 2020.
McArthur has been out with a knock since the 1-1 draw with Burnley in late February.
“Both of them started training with the team – this is good news for us,” said Vieira. “If everything goes well this week, they can be part of the squad on Monday.”
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