West Ham face a nightmare situation at Selhurst Park with goalkeepers Lukasz Fabianski and David Martin both in a race against time to be fit for the game on Boxing Day.
Fabianski and Martin are both training after hip problems but neither are 100 per cent fit.
It means Manuel Pellegrini could be forced to recall error-prone Roberto against Crystal Palace.
Roberto has not played since he was dropped last month after a string of mistakes and Pellegrini is hoping Fabianski will be able to return after three months out.
Elsewhere, Manuel Lanzini is fit again after recovering from a shoulder injury and Felipe Anderson is available after illness.
Following the 1-0 win against Southampton last time out, Pellegrini is expected to stick with the 4-4-2 formation he played at St Mary’s with Michail Antonio and Sebastien Haller up front.
West Ham (4-4-2): Fabianski; Fredericks, Diop, Ogbonna, Cresswell; Anderson, Noble, Rice, Fornals; Antonio, Haller.
