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Football London
Football London
Sport
Robert Warlow

Crystal Palace news: Hodgson's Benteke message, January transfer setback, Man City injury boost

It is matchday for Crystal Palace as they travel to face Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium.

The Eagles head north to Manchester looking for a repeat of their 3-2 win last season, when Roy Hodgson's men became the only team to take points off the Premier League champions at their home ground.

On that day, Andros Townsend scored Palace's goal of the season with a superb volley from outside of the box, but he won't be available tomorrow due to injury.

And Palace boss Roy Hodgson has admitted that he is expecting a tough test against Pep Guardiola's men, who thrashed Aston Villa 6-1 last weekend.

Below, we take a look at the latest Palace news ahead of the game.

Injury boost for Palace

There have been plenty of injury problems for Palace boss Roy Hodgson to contend with in recent weeks.

The Eagles have had to deal with an injury list that has reached double figures, but Palace have received a boost ahead of the game though, with Joel Ward returning to training.

Max Meyer of Crystal Palace receives medical treatment after being fouled by Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang of Arsenal, who was later shown a red card following a VAR decision during the Premier League match between Crystal Palace and Arsenal (Alex Pantling/Getty Images)

However, they will be without Max Meyer, after he picked up an injury in the challenge from Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang last weekend.

“It doesn’t change that much, we were hoping to recover Max Meyer, but that has not been possible," Hodgson confirmed.

“Joel Ward, who has been out for a long time, returns, Scott Dann returned before the last game. We are still a lot of people down and we will have a few players from the U23 squad on our bench."

Meanwhile, Pep Guardiola confirmed that Leroy Sane and Aymeric Laporte would not be available for the game against Palace, but added that both are nearing returns from injury, with Laporte back in training and Sane set to join in training next week.

The future of Crystal Palace striker Christian Benteke has been the subject of much speculation so far this month.

The Belgian has been linked with former club Aston Villa, while French side Bordeaux have also been linked in recent days with a loan move for the 29-year-old.

But Hodgson insists that the former Aston Villa and Liverpool man is going nowhere this month.

"I can’t believe someone is going to suggest - when we have very few forwards anyway - that we are considering loaning out a player who we are badly missing because he has been out injured, and that we as a football club, or I as a coach, are seriously considering loaning out what is potentially one of our best players to a club in France.

"I find it hard to believe. When I ask a question I sometimes wonder if it is worth asking, because I know the answer, but we have to answer these questions.

"It is not quite as ludicrous as Wilf Zaha being loaned to Bayern Munich, but it is about ten per cent less ludicrous than that."

January transfer setback

Palace are one of a number of clubs to have been linked with a move to sign Tottenham full-back Kyle Walker-Peters, with Premier League rivals Brighton & Hove Albion and Southampton also named as potential suitors.

But despite confirming earlier this month that Palace had made contact with Spurs over a possible loan deal, Hodgson has now said there has been no further progress made.

"Initial contact was made," he said.

"It would have been a good move for us, but I have no idea what Tottenham's intentions are, or what they are thinking about it."

Roy Hodgson's message over Christian Benteke
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