Crystal Palace face a significant injury blow after Sam Johnstone’s elbow issue sustained on international duty could now see him miss the rest of the season.
It was reported earlier today that Crystal Palace could relax following Sam Johnstone’s exit from the England camp due to injury however, the Eagles’ worst fears have now come true.
The Palace goalkeeper was reported to have left his role on international duty after sustaining an injury to his elbow, with initial reports implying that the 31-year-old’s departure was ‘not serious’.
Now, a refreshed update has revealed that the shot-stopper could now miss the rest of the season due to the injury he picked up in the England camp, putting his Palace and England future at risk.
Sam Johnstone could now miss the rest of the season
Journalist Sami Mokbel initially reported that Johnstone’s injury was less severe than it now is, with the Daily Mail reporter relaying an updated stance on the keeper’s blow.
Mokbel said that the Englishman is now in a ‘race against time’ to feature again in the 2023/24 calendar, putting his hopes to go to this summer’s European Championships at risk.
“Crystal Palace goalkeeper Sam Johnstone in a race against time to play again this season after suffering elbow injury on England duty.”
Having last played competitively for Palace in their previous Premier League outing against Luton Town, Johnstone was said not to have carried the injury to international duty.
Crystal Palace suffer a huge blow by losing Sam Johnstone
Despite spending £20m to sign Dean Henderson from Manchester United in the summer, it’s been Johnstone that has come out on top as Palace’s first choice option between the posts.
Henderson not only suffered an injury early into his time with the Eagles but has been an inconsistent performer, seeing his counterpart take centre stage under both Roy Hodgson and Oliver Glasner.
There is now a chance for Henderson to turn things around at Selhurst Park amid the damning update on his teammate’s injury, in what will be difficult news for the Eagles to swallow.
In January, it was reported that Nottingham Forest attempted to sign Johnstone, sparking rumours over his future at Selhurst that could now resurface if Glasner finds peace at playing with Henderson.
For now, the club will be hopeful that the 31-year-old will return to action before the end of the campaign, after working extremely hard to get himself to the point of being Palace’s number one against the odds.
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