Crystal Palace begin their campaign today without Michael Olise, leading to Andre Ayew joining the attack to face Sheffield United today.
The Eagles get their Premier League season up and running on Saturday with a trip to face newly-promoted United, but will do so without Olise who is not close to making a return.
The winger is the subject of interest from a number of clubs this summer, including London rivals Chelsea, but has been sidelined since June after picking up a serious thigh injury at the European Under-21 Championships
“Michael Olise is still out for a considerable period of time after that very bad injury he picked up with France Under-21s after the end of the season”, Roy Hodgson confirmed in his press conference on Friday.
Will Hughes and new signing Matheus Franca will also be absent when Palace get the new campaign underway at Bramall Lane.
Hodgson said: “Will Hughes was the recipient of a really bad tackle when we played Millionarios in Chicago. That’s an injury that’s going to take more time than we’ve been able to give him so far.
“Matheus Franca has come to the club and they’ve detected a slight stress problem there, so the medical department don’t want to push him into training. For the next few weeks, until he has a second scan, we’ll have to do without him.”
France is one of two signings Palace have made this summer. Jefferson Lerma, the defensive midfielder who joined upon the expiry of his Bournemouth contract, is set to start against Sheffield United.
“The fans will like him,” Hodgson said. “He’s a good signing — we were lucky to get him.”
Crystal Palace XI: Johnstone; Ward, Guehi, Andersen, Mitchell; Lerma, Doucoure, Schlupp; Ayew, Edouard, Eze
Subs: Matthews, Tomkins, Clyne, Richards, Riedewald, Ahamada, Rak-Sakyi, Gordon, Mateta
Injuries: Olise, Hughes, Franca
Doubts: None
Time and date: 3pm, Saturday August 12, 2023
Venue: Bramall Lane
