Crystal Palace boss delivers squad injury update ahead of Brighton clash – Key defender will be absent

Crystal Palace boss Roy Hodgson has confirmed they will be without captain Joel Ward for tomorrow night’s clash against arch-rivals Brighton.

Ward was forced off in the first half during Saturday’s 2-2 draw at Manchester City, with David Ozoh, 18, coming on in his place.

The 34-year-old has made 16 appearances in the Premier League this season.

Eze suffered ankle ligament damage in the 2-1 defeat at Luton and missed the next three Premier League outings. However, he was included in the matchday squad at The Ethiad and came on for the final few minutes as Palace snatched a late equaliser.

Jefferson Lerma, 29, picked up a slight hamstring injury in the 2-1 defeat at home to Liverpool and missed the game against the current Premier League champions. 

“Joel Ward, as I think everyone knows, picked up an injury, unfortunately, last weekend,” Hodgson confirmed.

“He’s had a scan, so we will be missing him for a while – so that is a new injury concern.

“Otherwise, the ones who have been injured are making good progress, most of them. 

“Jefferson Lerma has made much quicker progress than expected, and Ebere Eze is coming on very well too.

“He is on the cusp, really, and it’s a decision we will have to make at the time, whether to start him or whether to try to protect him a little bit on the bench, but we’ll make that decision in the course of the next few hours.”