Crystal Palace travel to Old Trafford this weekend to take on Manchester United in the English Premier League.
And it looks like Roy Hodgson will be without two of his key players – James Tomkins and Mamadou Sakho.
Tomkins has been recovering from a groin injury and as of now, there is no official return date – as confirmed by the manager.
Hodgson has also confirmed that Sakho felt his knee once again while he was taking part in training which means the defender like Tomkins is also out of the Man United clash.
Hodgson told in the Crystal Palace press conference: “He trained with us for a while, but then felt his knee again, so until he gets back into training with us, he is on his own fitness programme with the sports science people.”
The Crystal Palace boss was also asked as to when these two players would return to the first-team to which he gave a pretty vague answer.
The manager said: “We don’t have any problems other than the ones we’ve been wrestling with, with Mamadou Sakho and James Tomkins. Apart from that, we’re okay.
“Mamadou Sakho trained with us for a while then felt his knee again. He still trains with the physio, aside from the first-team group.
“Unfortunately, he and James Tomkins have spent pre-season in the medical room, training along with the sport science people.
“They’re working at it. It’s difficult to put a timescale on. Both are getting closer and are working hard every day. The doctors would be upset with me if I talk timescales.”
The absence of both the centre-backs means that it will be the pairing of Scott Dann and Gary Cahill who will take the pitch for Crystal Palace vs Man United on Saturday.
And given the pace that United have going forward, the duo could be in for a really tough 90 minutes.
