Crystal Palace face a right-back crisis for the busy festive period with Joel Ward sidelined with a knee injury.
Ward, who has become a vital member of the Palace side since they sold Aaron Wan-Bissaka to Manchester United in the summer, was forced off during Saturday’s 2-1 defeat against Liverpool as is expected to be out for at least a few weeks.
It leaves Palace desperately short in the position after they failed to replace Wan-Bissaka, following his £50million move. Centre-back Martin Kelly is their only other option until they can sign someone in the January transfer window.
The Eagles had looked to bring in either Chelsea’s Reece James or Tottenham’s Kyle Walker-Peters over the summer, the latter being an option they could return to in January, given the youngster’s lack of game time at Spurs.
