Crystal Palace ace Eberechi Eze facing six weeks on sidelines with hamstring injury

Crystal Palace talisman Eberechi Eze faces a lengthy spell on the sidelines after picking up a hamstring injury against Manchester United.

According to London News Online, the England international could be out for around six weeks, meaning he’ll miss the upcoming international break.

Eze was on Gareth Southgate’s list during September’s international window for the matches against Ukraine and Scotland after impressing for Palace.

The 25-year-old forward has started every Premier League game under Roy Hodgson this season, including last weekend’s outing at Old Trafford.

He was on the field for 88 minutes before being replaced by Chris Richards as the Eagles avenged a 3-0 League Cup defeat with a narrow 1-0 win.

Eze’s set-piece delivery led to Joachim Andersen’s winner midway through the first half, helping Palace return to winning ways in the Premier League after back-to-back winless fixtures.

His hamstring problem was the last thing Hodgson needed amid a growing injury crisis at Selhurst Park.

While waiting for standout winger Michael Olise to make his maiden appearance in 2023/24, the veteran manager has lost numerous first-team stars to injuries.

Dean Henderson sustained a thigh problem during Palace’s League Cup demolition at the Theatre of Dreams, joining Jefferson Lerma, Matheus Franca, Odsonne Edouard, Naouirou Ahamada and James Tomkins in the treatment room.

Eze’s injury is a massive blow for Hodgson’s side ahead of their Premier League encounter against fellow mid-table rivals Nottingham Forest this weekend.

It’s also a potential problem for Southgate, who’s expected to make his squad announcement for the upcoming clashes against Australia and Italy on Thursday.

After featuring in all 38 Palace’s Premier League games in 2022/23, Eze made his international debut against Malta in June and received Southgate’s call-up last month.

He had a decent chance of making the cut again in October, but after suffering a rare injury setback, Eze will stay in London to accelerate his recovery.