Crystal Palace manager Roy Hodgson says there is a disagreement between Eberechi Eze and the club’s medical staff over when the 25-year-old will be able to return from injury.
Eze sustained a left ankle injury during the 2-1 loss at Luton Town last weekend. Hodgson confirmed during the week that the attacking midfielder had suffered “high ankle ligament” damage and was to see a surgeon.
Hodgson was again asked for the latest on Eze’s condition following Palace’s 1-1 draw at West Ham United on Sunday.
“The update is a little bit up in the air because Eze is seemingly of the opinion that he will get over this injury quickly and be back before you can say, ‘Jack Robinson’,” Hodgson said, “whereas the medical staff think he will be out for a long period of time.
“I know what I want, but I don’t know what I’m going to get. I think he’s going to attempt to train with us over the next couple of days, which is great, that’s extremely positive, but I don’t know quite how optimistic I can be.
“The medical people are telling me the injury is such that it will take a longer period of time to recover from.”
Eze previously missed three games in October with a hamstring injury, before returning as a substitute against Burnley at the start of November. He made just two starts, one against Everton and the other against Luton, before sustaining this latest problem.
Palace are already without key defensive midfielder Cheick Doucoure, who looks likely to miss the rest of the 2023-24 season after sustaining an Achilles injury during the Luton defeat. Rob Holding, Jesurun Rak-Sakyi and Dean Henderson are also on Palace’s injury list.
Hodgson’s side are back in action on Wednesday when they host Bournemouth.
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