Crystal Palace boss reveals midfielder’s recurring back injury forced him off against Leicester City

BY SAM SMITH

Roy Hodgson has admitted that Crystal Palace midfielder James McArthur worsened a recurring back problem in the second half of the Eagles’ defeat by Leicester City.

The former Scotland international was substituted 12 minutes from full time but had appeared in pain for most of the second period at Selhurst Park.

Eagles manager Hodgson said: “The worse [injury] is McArthur, because he has been struggling with a back injury.

“He felt his back quite seriously during that second half, that’s why we had to take him off. He was actually having a very good game but his back injury prevented him from continuing.”

Defender Gary Cahill and midfielder Cheikhou Kouyate both received head injuries during the same incident midway through the second half.

The pair challenged Jonny Evans at a set-piece and Cahill suffered a cut, while Kouyate was later withdrawn.

Palace have a day off tomorrow but Hodgson thinks the pair will go straight back into training.

“As for Gary Cahill and Cheikh Kouyate they were blows to the head, which we see more and more these days but I don’t think either of those two will be out of training on Tuesday but they may have a sore head this evening and they will need tomorrow to recover,” said Hodgson.

“We came off counting our injuries today and it’s not going to be long before Saturday to put those things right.”

PICTURES BY KEITH GILLARD