Patrick Vieria is set to receive a huge injury boost ahead of Crystal Palace’s FA Cup semi-final showdown against Chelsea on Sunday as Tyrick Mitchell is reportedly on course to be fit to face the Blues.
The 22-year-old England international went down in the 34th minute of Palace’s 2-1 defeat to Leicester City last Sunday, with Vieira confirming in his post-match press conference that he’d felt something in his calf.
That left Eagles fans sweating on his involvement in the club’s biggest game of the season this weekend when they take on Chelsea at Wembley for a place in the FA Cup Final, though according to the Daily Mail, Palace are hopeful Mitchell will be ready for Sunday’s game after resuming light training this week at Copers Cope.
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The left-back has enjoyed a stellar campaign for the Eagles this season where he’s started every Premier League of the season and been one of Vieira’s most consistent performers. In March, his form was rewarded with his first senior international call-up with England, with Mitchell impressing on his debut off the bench against Switzerland before starting and helping keep a clean sheet in the 3-0 win over Ivory Coast.
Mitchell’s impressive year has come after he broke into the starting XI under Roy Hodgson last season. Initially competing with Patrick van Aanholt for a place in the team, the academy graduate was shown a big sign of faith when the club decided not to replace the Dutchman after he left for Turkey and Galatasaray in the summer.
But instead of flounder, Mitchell flourished and has since become one of Vieira’s most trusted lieutenants on the field. He’s struck up an understanding with Wilfried Zaha on the left flank and has had some of his best games against the Premier League’s elite players.
Of late, he has kicked on even further and has strung together several man of the match performances as Palace’s form has improved from the dip the team took at the turn of the year. Mitchell was excellent in the 1-1 draw away at Norwich in February and then even better in the draw at Brentford a week later. He then provided his second assist of the season in the 4-1 win at Watford before starring at Molineux in March in another victory.
