Crystal Palace’s Nathan Ferguson suffers thigh strain setback in fitness quest

BY SAM SMITH

Nathan Ferguson’s long-awaited return to fitness has been delayed by a thigh strain, Crystal Palace boss Roy Hodgson has revealed.

The defender, 20, has been out for nearly a year with a knee injury suffered while he was still with West Brom last season.

Ferguson signed for the Eagles on a free transfer from the Baggies in the summer and had only stepped up to full training this week – but Hodgson said the youngster’s “enthusiasm” has led to a separate issue.

The 73-year-old said: “It’s quite sad news in the way that he was, and is, getting on fairly well. He actually joined in with us this week and had just become a bonafide member of the squad, without us having to moderate what he can and can’t do.

“But unfortunately, as sometimes happens in these situations, especially as he’s young and enthusiastic, it’s led to him picking up a slight thigh strain. So, at the moment, I’m waiting on the results of that thigh strain and the MRI.

“The good news is that it has nothing to do with the knee injury that he had, and it was good that he came through the training so well with his knee. No doubt that his enthusiasm and the stepping up of the intensity of his training by joining in with the rest of the boys has unfortunately provoked a thigh strain.

“He trained yesterday. It was only when I arrived this morning and spoke to the medical staff that they informed me that he wouldn’t train today because of the feeling in his thigh.

“They told me that they would get it scanned and we will wait to see what the answer will be. I have no idea [when he will be back] and the medical staff were not prepared to get involved in any guesswork.”

Featured image: CPFC