Roy Hodgson has admitted Nathan Ferguson’s return from injury and wait for his Crystal Palace debut is a "slow process".
The former West Bromwich Albion defender hasn't played a game since a 2-1 defeat to Cardiff City on January 28.
A knee problem stopped Ferguson from sealing a January move to Palace and he is still recovering from surgery in February.
The 19-year-old’s contract expired with Albion in the summer, with Palace swooping to sign him on a free transfer on a three-year deal.
But fans and Hodgson will have to wait a little while longer yet for his debut in red and blue.
"Well of course he is in the first-team squad, he's one of the injured players in the first team squad," Hodgson told reporters when asked when Ferguson may be seen in the first team.
"We can't put a timescale on it at the moment. It's important that he has the time that he needs to make certain that when he trains he doesn't suffer from the swelling of the knee or any discomfort.
"It really is a fairly slow process and one we have to go through.
"He's desperate to get back and playing as soon as he possibly can, but everything has to be done in tandem between how he's feeling and when the medical department believe he can join in without it causing discomfort."
