Roy Hodgson has confirmed Wilfried Zaha is nearing a return from injury and can still play an “important part” in the final weeks of the season for Crystal Palace.
The 30-year-old limped off with a groin injury earlier this month against Leicester at Selhurst Park, in Hodgson’s first match back in charge of the Eagles after replacing Patrick Vieira.
With Zaha out of contract at the end of the season, there were fears that he had played his last game for Palace, but the injury did not turn out to be as serious as initially suggested and the winger is close to being available again.
Both he and Nathaniel Clyne will miss the trip to face Wolves on Tuesday night, but the pair could come into contention for Saturday’s home match against West Ham.
“We’re hoping at some stage during the week both Wilf and Nathaniel Clyne will be able to join us as well, so in that respect, the squad is looking quite healthy,” Hodgson told reporters.
“I don’t know if it’s going to be likely [they’re available] for West Ham, but at least it’s going to be good to see them back in training during the course of the week. There was never any question they would be considered for tomorrow night’s game.”
Palace are unbeaten in four matches since Hodgson returned to the dugout, a run that has eased any relegation fears as they nine points clear of the bottom three in 12th.
The Eagles have won two of the three games they have played without Zaha this month, though were held to a goalless draw by Everton over the weekend at Selhurst Park as they struggled to break the Toffees down. Hodgson is looking forward to having his star man back and available to be the difference in matches like that.
“Every coach really is looking for players in his team that are going to produce something extra special which, even when the opponents are very well organised, they can’t deal with,” the Palace boss said.
“I don’t think Wilf is the only player of that type that we have – we have others which is fortunate – but in a game like the one on Saturday, where Everton were well organised and very committed, you know those opportunities are going to be few and far between.
“We are going to be happy when he returns. We still think, in these final games of the season, if we want to finish as we’d like to finish he’s going to play an important part. I can only hope he gets fit sooner rather than later.”
