Crystal Palace fitness boost as Mamadou Sakho and Yohan Cabaye return for West Ham clash

Giuseppe Muro29 January 2018

Mamadou Sakho has given Crystal Palace a huge injury boost by returning from his calf problem ahead of tomorrow’s crunch clash with West Ham.

Sakho has been out for seven weeks but the defender is back in training and will be in the squad at the London Stadium.

Palace have been also been boosted by the news that Yohan Cabaye is available after his ankle injury is not as bad as first feared.

It remains to be seen if Sakho will be fit enough to start against West Ham but his return is good news for Palace manager Roy Hodgson.

Hodgson said on Monday: “We found ourselves in a poor situation a week or two ago but Mamadou Sakho has recovered which is a big boost. And Yohan Cabaye, who I thought would be out for a long period after his ankle injury against Arsenal, has recovered too.”

Hodgson has confirmed Palace remain hopeful of wrapping up a deal to sign Spanish goalkeeper Vicente Guaita before the transfer window on Wednesday.

Guaita passed a medical at Selhurst Park last week but a deal has yet to be finalised.

Hodgson has targeted a new goalkeeper this month to challenge Wayne Hennessey and Julian Speroni for the No1 position.

“He is a player we like and are still pursuing,” said Hodgson. “It would be nice if he could come in during the January window. It is something we are trying to do.

“A successful deadline would be if we get cover in the areas we are talking about. Those areas are goalkeeper and centre-forward.”

Palace have been linked with Burnley forward Ashley Barnes but Hodgson has dismissed suggestions a bid has been made.

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