Scott Dann: Injury hit Eagles facing huge Christmas challenge
Scott Dann feels Crystal Palace have picked up too many injuries as they head into a busy festive period.
The Eagles face five matches in 16 days over the Christmas and New Year schedule but have at least seven of their 23-man first team squad absent.
Jairo Riedewald became the latest casualties in Palace’s 1-1 draw with Brighton on Monday night. Mamadou Sakho will return after serving the last of his three-match ban against Newcastle United tomorrow.
“This period never gets easier, it seems like there are more games every season. We’re used to it by now. We know when this time comes that recovery is really important,” said Dann.
“We’ve picked up one too many injuries at the wrong time but hopefully in the next few weeks, leading into this period, we can start to get people back. If not, whoever’s in the changing room will have to go on the pitch and play well and keep the performances going.
“If we don’t, we need to stick together as a team and come away from games like we did today.”
Dann has had his own injury problems recently but has come back into the side due to the absence of Sakho and Gary Cahill.
Manager Roy Hodgson admitted on Monday that Cahill could be out in the “relatively long term” after having a minor operation. Dann, 32, hopes that is not going to be the case.
He said: “Hopefully he [Cahill] is not going to be out too long. We need every player we can get back as quickly as possible.
“But this is what you have squads for, I’ve been in that position before where I’ve been injured and it’s on whoever comes into the team to carry on with that type of performances and do your job for the team. Whether it’s me, or someone else in another position, everyone needs to be ready.”
Photo by Keith Gillard