On Monday night, Palace will play their London rivals in a Premier League match that is significant for both teams.
Chelsea is currently 11th in the standings after heartbreaking losses to Wolves and Liverpool, but Mauricio Pochettino is feeling a little less pressure after Wednesday night’s unexpectedly strong FA Cup victory against Aston Villa.
The Eagles, meantime, are only five points clear of the relegation zone after a run of only three victories in 18 games. The supporters are calling for Roy Hodgson to be fired and significant changes to the club’s direction.
A number of their important players have been injured, including the season-ending calf injury suffered by Cheick Doucoure, the hamstring and knee ailments suffered by Michael Olise and Marc Guehi, who both hobbled off during last weekend’s appalling loss to rival Brighton.
Although the duration of the duo’s absence is unknown, early signs point to a protracted absence.
Eze had a hamstring injury in the previous game against Sheffield United, which prevented him from playing in the Brighton match. Hodgson commented, “We think that the damage is not quite as bad as we feared it might be, but it still could be bad.”
The attacking midfielder’s extended absence is expected to last two or three weeks, according to the South London Press. This is far less time than most supporters had anticipated.
If accurate, he will still miss the Chelsea match and two crucial six-pointers to avoid relegation against Burnley and Everton.
Therefore, he might return when the Eagles play Tottenham on March 2.
The 25-year-old has been playing well for Palace while healthy, tallying five goals and dishing out three assists thus far. However, his history of injuries may prevent him from being included in England’s 2024 squad.
In the seven games he has missed this season, his team has only scored four goals and has failed to win any of them.
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