Alan Pardew is sweating over the fitness of centre-back Scott Dann after the defender limped off for Crystal Palace in last night’s EFL Cup defeat to Southampton.
After a strong start to the game, Dann suffered a hamstring injury and was taken off in the 18th minute and replaced by Martin Kelly who gave away a first-half penalty which was converted by Charlie Austin.
Dann is having scans today to determine the severity of his hamstring injury and if he’d face any lengthy period on the sidelines.
£10m summer signing from West Ham, James Tomkins, was taken off at half-time last weekend in the 4-1 home win over Stoke with a knee injury, so his status is up in the air whether he’d be available for the trip to Sunderland this weekend.
That, plus the injury to Scott Dann, leaves Palace awfully short of cover in defence for the time being.
Defender Joel Ward spoke after the game about Scott Dann and his impact on the side.
“Scott is a massive player for us and has proven that week in and week out.
“He is an outstanding presence on the pitch. But we have quality throughout the squad and more than enough quality to come on and do well.
“It was a night that you have to quickly put to the back of your mind and put it right at the weekend.”
It’s expected that, if both James Tomkins and Scott Dann are unavailable this weekend, that Martin Kelly will partner Damien Delaney at the heart of the defence.
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