Key Crystal Palace midfielder Daichi Kamada has been ruled out for up to 10 weeks after suffering a hamstring injury against Manchester City last weekend.
Daichi Kamada Faces Lengthy Injury Layoff
Crystal Palace star Daichi Kamada has been ruled out for eight to 10 weeks after being forced off with a hamstring injury in his side’s 3-0 defeat by Manchester City on Sunday afternoon.
Kamada featured for 67 minutes before being withdrawn for Will Hughes.
The midfielder has started in each of the Eagles’ last 14 Premier League fixtures, having missed the opening two games of the campaign after suffering a knee injury in the Community Shield.
Speaking in his pre-match press conference ahead of Palace’s final Conference League league phase match against Finnish champions KuPS, Oliver Glasner confirmed the major injury blow.
He told members of the media: “It is how it looked, how he walked off the pitch, it’s a serious hamstring injury, and he will be out for at least eight to 10 weeks.
“It doesn’t affect the thinking in tomorrow’s game – he won’t be back – and our focus is completely on the three games within five days. Then we have a bit of time, and then we play Tottenham at home before 2025 ends, so no, it doesn’t affect the next couple of days.
“It’s not what we want, but on the other side, it’s part of football – it’s part of sports – that so many things can happen. It’s not a normal muscle injury, it was just an incident with his landing – he overstretched everything, the full weight on the front, and that’s why it happens.
“He never has muscles injuries. But unfortunately it’s part of our game.”
It comes at a particularly frustrating time for Palace, as they face a busy fixture period over the next few weeks. They take on KuPS, Leeds, Arsenal and Tottenham all in the space of 10 days.
Incredibly, they face both KuPS and Leeds in the space of 48 hours on Thursday and Saturday.
Kamada’s injury perhaps highlights the Eagles’ need to add to their squad in January.
Glasner sent a transfer plea to the Palace board last month, reiterating the importance of adding both quality and depth to their squad during the upcoming transfer window.
Some have suggested that the Austrian may depart if he isn’t backed in the market.
He is favoured to replace Ruben Amorim in the next Manchester United manager odds market. Meanwhile, the Eagles have reportedly identified Jose Bordalas as Glasner’s replacement.
Kamada Blow Adds to Crystal Palace Injury Woes
Kamada’s injury adds to an already lengthy absentee list for Palace.
Daniel Munoz is out until the new year with a knee injury, while Cheick Doucoure and Chadi Riad are sidelined with long-term knee injuries, and Caleb Kporha is out with a lower back issue.
Academy graduate Rio Cardines is also on the treatment table with an adductor injury.
Star winger Ismaila Sarr returned from an ankle injury in the defeat by City at the weekend, however he has since linked up with Senegal for the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).
Sarr will miss Palace’s next four games at a minimum, but should he and his national team make a deep run into the tournament, he could miss upwards of nine games in all competitions.
Palace head into their midweek continental clash occupying ninth place in the league phase table. They will secure advancement to the knockout phase by avoiding defeat against KuPS.
Should they prevail, they will likely finish in the top eight, which would ensure their direct qualification to the round of 16 – thus bypassing the knockout phase play-offs.
