"Huge blow to Patrick Vieira's plans" – Journalist reacts after big Crystal Palace injury scare

Having Michael Olise and Wilfried Zaha out injured would be a “huge blow” to Crystal Palace’s chances of reaching the FA Cup final, according to journalist Pete O’Rourke.

The £55.8m-rated pair suffered injuries on international duty and are doubtful for the Eagles’ upcoming games.

International breaks are always an anxious time for Premier League managers, who want their players to perform well for their countries, but ultimately want them to return injury free.

Those anxious thoughts are ramped up in March, with the business end of the season just around the corner, not least for Crystal Palace, who have an FA Cup semi final in just over two weeks’ time.

And Patrick Vieira has suffered a potential double blow ahead of their Wembley date with Chelsea later this month, with Olise and Zaha both sustaining injuries.

Firstly, 20-year-old Olise withdrew from the France Under-21 squad following ‘inflammation’ in his left foot, while the Eagles manager is also sweating over the fitness of Zaha after he sat out Ivory Coast’s game with England after injuring his hamstring against France three days earlier.

After the 3-0 defeat, Ivory Coast manager Patrice Beaumelle provided a worrying update.

He said: “He had a grade one or two injury and because of the schedule of Crystal Palace, we don’t have to take any risks because if it gets worse it is maybe six weeks or two months out.”

Thankfully for Vieira, he revealed that both players could still return in time for Monday’s meeting with Arsenal.

He told GIVEMESPORT: “If they were to be sidelined [for the Chelsea game], it would be a huge blow to Patrick Vieira’s plans of getting Crystal Palace to the FA Cup final.”

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