Crystal Palace midfielder Will Hughes was left out of Patrick Vieira's squad to take on Man City on Saturday due to sustaining a minor back injury, football.london understands.
The 26-year-old, who signed for Palace for a fee of around £6million in August, is yet to come onto the pitch to make his Eagles debut, having so far been an unused substitute in six Premier League matches.
Vieira said last month that Hughes had needed extra time to catch up to the standards of the top flight, having spent the previous season in the Championship with Watford.
The midfielder has signed a three-year deal at Selhurst Park and is seen as many as the natural successor to James McArthur within the squad.
Unfortunately for him though, Eagles stalwart McArthur is currently enjoying one of his best seasons in a Palace shirt and has struck up a strong partnership in the middle of the pitch with Chelsea loanee Conor Gallagher.
This, plus the back injury that ruled him out of Saturday's trip the Etihad, mean Palace fans will have to wait even longer before they get to see Hughes make his debut.
Vieira's side take on Wolves at Selhurst Park this Saturday before the November international break begins, with their next match after that not until November 20 away at Burnley.
