Dean Henderson is set to start in between the sticks for Crystal Palace for the remainder of the 2023/24 campaign following a serious injury to Sam Johnstone.
The Crystal Palace No.1 hurt his elbow on international duty with England and – according to the Daily Mail – will now miss the rest of the season and also UEFA EURO 2024 after needing surgery to fix the problem.
It comes as a bitter blow to both Sam Johnstone and Oliver Glasner – who has entrusted the England international to be his No.1 since replacing Roy Hodgson.
Now – however – another Crystal Palace player has appeared to hurt their elbow…
Will Hughes appears to hurt elbow in Crystal Palace training
Well, Crystal Palace released footage of training ahead of Saturday’s Premier League clash against Nottingham Forest.
Glasner instructed the players to engage in a unique drill where the ball is thrown rather than kicked, although a goal can only be scored with a headed effort.
Around the 4:15 minute mark of the video, Will Hughes was seen saving a header from Tyrick Mitchell, although the Crystal Palace No.19’s elbow struck the post in doing so.
The 28-year-old can then be seen rolling on the ground holding his elbow, before the footage moves on to the likes of Henderson and Remi Matthews partaking in some goalkeeping drills.
Hopefully, Hughes hasn’t damaged his elbow too badly, as it would be a real blow to lose another player to the same injury, just as Johnstone undergoes surgery on his elbow.
Important period for Dean Henderson
The jury is still very much out on Henderson at Selhurst Park.
In fairness to the England international, his £20m price tag has not helped in terms of adding pressure, although the numbers do not reflect very well on the man from Whitehaven.
Henderson has made eight Premier League appearances for Crystal Palace, conceding 20 goals in those outings while failing to keep a single clean sheet.
It also spoke volumes that Johnstone was immediately reinstated as No.1 after Hodgson left.
Therefore, Henderson has a lot to prove as he prepares to step back into the starting XI.
