Crystal Palace set for James McArthur return for visit to Wolverhampton Wanderers – but could be without Tyrick Mitchell

By Sam Smith

James McArthur is set to return for Crystal Palace’s game against Wolverhampton Wanderers – although Roy Hodgson may be without young defender Tyrick Mitchell.

The midfielder missed the Eagles’ 2-1 win against Fulham last weekend due to a calf strain but returned to training this week.

However, Hodgson revealed that Mitchell – who has started each of Palace’s Premier League games at left-back this season – could miss out after suffering a knock in training.

The 21-year-old will likely be replaced by Patrick van Aanholt. The Dutchman’s late cameo against Fulham was the first time he had featured since suffering a freak shoulder injury against Manchester United towards the end of last season.

Hodgson said: “[McArthur] is back in training. He had the injury which kept him out of the Fulham game, it was touch and go. But, luckily, he’s back in training and he’s made himself available to play, so that’s good.

“We’ve got an injury to Joel Ward and [we] need to assess Tyrick Mitchell, he took a knock in training.

“The squad at the moment is a big and competitive as it has been in my time at the club. For the first time last week and possibly this week I’ve had to leave people out of the 18-man squad.”