Crystal Palace pair Steve Mandanda and Patrick van Aanholt have travelled with the rest of the first-team squad on their four-day warm weather training camp in Morocco this week, according to the Croydon Advertiser.
Sam Allardyce has been a big proponent of taking his team on a short break around this time of the campaign to help build squad morale and enjoy some rest-bite from the labours of training in the British winter weather.
There were doubts whether stricken pair Mandanda and van Aanholt would join the team in north Africa this week but both have travelled.
Mandanda hasn’t featured for Crystal Palace since early November having undergone knee surgery which has sidelined him up until this point, but he is stepping up his recovery by rejoining first-team training in Morocco.
There was talk of Mandanda featuring in a U23 game for Palace this week against Charlton but Allardyce wants the France international to come and train with the rest of the squad as he bids for a place back in the team.
As for van Aanholt, the left-back was stretchered off during Crystal Palace’s win over West Brom last week in what was feared to be a severe injury.
The Dutchman took to social media after the game to confirm the injury wasn’t as bad as first thought and with no scans requires here in London he has been allowed to travel to Morocco.
Allardyce and his squad will return to south London on Thursday.
