‘I can’t seriously imagine’ – Palace boss Roy Hodgson provides Matheus Franca and Michael Olise injury update 

Crystal Palace boss Roy Hodgson has admitted that he does not expect either Michael Olise or Matheus Franca to be available until after the October international break.

Olise, 21, suffered a setback from his return from hamstring surgery, which was required after he picked up a grade three tear on international duty with France’s U21 side over the summer.

Franca, who joined this summer after the Eagles paid an initial £17million with a further £9m in add-ons to Brazilian side Flamengo, is yet to feature this season after a stress fracture in his back was discovered during his medical. 

Palace play Manchester United tomorrow in the EFL Cup before heading to Old Trafford again on Saturday for their Premier League clash.

The Eagles also host Nottingham Forest before the break.

“Neither [are expected back] in the next period of time,” confirmed the Palace boss.

“I can’t seriously imagine either being available before the international break, and that will be another couple of weeks.

“Even then, in particular with Olise’s injury, it was a very serious one he suffered with France.

“We have to be very careful that we don’t have a situation, which possibly happened to Wilf when he went to Turkey, because it was a similar injury, that him playing a bit earlier provoked a similar injury in the same area.

“It kept Wilf out for three or four weeks when he made his [Galatasaray] debut. They [Olise and Franca] are both making progress.

“We’re following the consignes of the medical department and physios. I don’t want to insist that a player had to come back earlier and then I’m responsible if something happens again and we miss him for another two months.”