Eze, Nketiah, Wharton: full Crystal Palace injury update and expected return dates ahead Newcastle

Crystal Palace showed signs of life as they travelled to Villa Park and came mighty close to taking all three points against Unai Emery's side. They did so with many players missing, and for large parts of the match, they were the better team on the day, earning a 2-2 draw.

They were brilliant and showed commitment throughout the game, which can only suggest that the squad is firmly behind the manager as the pressure mounts. They have only eight points from 12 games, but there is belief among a section of the fan base that, given the squad and the manager, they will come through this difficult period.

Ahead of what should be a cracking game at Selhurst Park, as they face a wounded Newcastle side, here are the latest injury updates and when we anticipate players will return.

Adam Wharton

The midfielder didn't look like himself at the start of the season, and it was later revealed that he was battling a hip issue. He has since undergone surgery to address the problem, but the Newcastle game may come too soon for him.Manager Oliver Glasner said: “We hope that Adam will return, maybe not for the Newcastle game, but in the next one or two weeks, because we need him.” Potential return: Mid-December.

Chadi Riad Dnanou

The defender was expected to return immediately after the international break. However, there was a surprise setback, and it seems he could be available this weekend. He will need time to fully integrate into the team after what has been a difficult period and a challenging start to life in south London. Glasner commented: “I don’t expect him to play before the next international break in November.” Potential return: End of November.

Eberechi Eze

The England midfielder has been back in training for the last 10 days. He was eager to play at the weekend, but the manager made the sensible decision to hold him back and give him that extra window of security to ensure his return is not rushed. Potential return: End of November.

Edward Nketiah

The England forward has found life difficult since his move to south London, still waiting for his first Premier League goal. Unfortunately, he is now dealing with an injury, and his potential return date is still unknown. The manager has not addressed his situation recently. Potential return: Unknown.

Franca has been forced off with an injury and will not play again until the new year. This is a big blow, as he has been an important player when fit. Potential return: January 2025