Crystal Palace are reportedly worried about the fitness of their centre-back Marc Guehi, who suffered a knock while away on international duty with England.
Guehi started in England’s friendly against Scotland on Tuesday but was replaced by Harry Maguire at half-time as he was forced to come off due to an injury that he picked up.
England manager Gareth Southgate was asked about the defender’s injury after the game and he said: “He [Guehi] was just feeling something at half-time. We hope it’s not too bad but he was not able to carry on.”
Southgate hinted that Guehi’s injury was a minor one but reports have since come out that suggest that the injury may be worse than originally feared.
It is being reported that the 23-year-old was nursing a hip injury which was detected when he was at Palace before the international break.
The club cleared him to go and join the national squad and it seems like Guehi has now aggravated the same hip injury, but this has not been officially confirmed by the club yet.
He started both of England’s games during the international break, having played the whole duration of the UEFA Euro qualifier against Ukraine earlier last week.
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The extent of the injury has not been revealed by either the club or the player but according to the Evening Standard, there is a huge chance that the Englishman could miss the Eagles’ next game in the league against Aston Villa this weekend.
The defender has been a pivotal part of a great start to the season for Roy Hodgson’s men who have claimed seven points from their first four league games. It will surely be a matter of annoyance for the manager if the defender is to be sidelined for several weeks.
The English manager will have to move things around in his defence in Guehi’s absence but new signing Rob Holding is likely to get a chance to start his first league game since arriving from Arsenal this summer.
Guehi has become one of Palace’s most important players since arriving from Chelsea two years ago. He has become the first-choice centre-back under previous manager Patrick Viera and has continued to feature in that role under Roy Hodgson.
It also seems as though he is starting to earn the respect of Southgate in the England setup as well. He has already earned six caps for England.
The England international is due to be tested and assessed by the doctors at Palace as players return back to training with their clubs after the end of the international break. Everyone at Selhurst Park will be hoping that Guehi’s injury is a minor one and he can return back to the squad as soon as possible.
Palace will face Villa and Fulham in the league next before a double-header against Manchester United awaits in late September. They will be hoping to have Guehi back fit for this period.
