Zaha times it right to bolster Palace
Wilfried Zaha has moved into contention to return for Crystal Palace in what would provide a significant boost for tomorrow’s fixture at Chelsea.
The forward, 25, has been absent having strained knee ligaments during their 1-1 draw with Newcastle on February 4, since when his absence has been so influential Roy Hodgson’s team have lost three from three and continued their record this season of losing every league match he has missed.
It took until Monday’s 3-2 defeat by Manchester United for them to score their first goals without Zaha from open play, but yesterday he returned to first-team training, meaning he could feature at Stamford Bridge.
Palace’s first points of the season came in October when Zaha returned from injury, also ahead of a fixture with Chelsea, to inspire an unexpected victory, and Hodgson said: “He was able to join in with the team for the first time. “Albeit in a modified session, which is enormous progress considering he’s so far ahead of schedule. We have to be careful because it was a serious injury and, under normal circumstances, we wouldn’t have expected him back this week.
“We’ll see how he feels when he comes in (today) and speak to him. We have to be very careful.
“He’s had a ball at his feet for a while. He’s been training on his own with the rehabilitation people and the physios, but was able to join in with the team for the first time,
“He is (itching to get back involved). It will be a matter of discussing it with him, but also with the doctor and physios who have been looking after him for so long.”