Palace plunged further into injury crisis amid Dann troubles

Scott Dann has plunged Crystal Palace further into their injury crisis after sustaining a calf strain on Friday, per The London Evening Standard.

What’s the word?

The Eagles are facing a major shortage of defenders as they prepare to face Newcastle United this weekend.

The Standard reports that Dann was set to start against the Magpies but he will now face a scan as they attempt to discover the extent of the damage.

Joel Ward, Gary Cahill, Patrick van Aanholt and Jeffrey Schlupp are all battling respective injury issues while Jairo Riedewald was injured against Brighton & Hove Albion last week and Mamadou Sakho is suspended.

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It means that seven defenders could all be absent for the clash – van Aanholt returned to training last week and may be risked – as Palace prepare for a busy festive schedule.

They play Newcastle this weekend prior to games against West Ham United and Southampton before New Year’s Day.

Woods’ chance

Sam Woods could be a chief beneficiary from this latest blow.

The 21-year-old Palace youngster was on the bench against Brighton but he has yet to make his Premier League debut.

In his Eagles career, thus far, he has played just twice, with both appearances coming in the EFL Cup.

Did he really play for us?! No Palace fan has managed to name all of these obscure Eagles signings….

However, Hodgson may have no other choice but to give him his senior league bow this weekend.

It remains to be seen how he will fare in the top-flight but he could well stake a claim to be in Hodgson’s plans for the foreseeable future.

Meanwhile, Palace could well offload a flop in the January transfer window.