Crystal Palace manager Roy Hodgson has revealed Wilfried Zaha could make a spectacular return in Saturday’s Premier League game away to Chelsea.
Zaha suffered knee ligament damage five weeks ago in Palace’s 1-1 draw at home to Newcastle and there were fears he would miss most of the season.
Hodgson’s side have lost the subsequent three matches that Zaha has missed and slipped back into the relegation zone as a result.
However, the Palace manager has now revealed that Zaha is so far ahead of schedule that he will be assessed ahead of Saturday’s trip to Stamford Bridge.
“He was able to join in with the team today for the first time, albeit in a modified session, which is enormous progress really,” The Guardian quote Hodgson as saying at Thursday’s news conference.
“We have to be careful because it was a serious injury and, under normal circumstances, we wouldn’t have expected him back this week.
“But he’s so far ahead of schedule. I’ve got to make it clear: it is a remarkable recovery and we have to be very careful to make certain that, just because he can take part in two modified training sessions, he really is coming back as the Wilfried Zaha he was before the injury.
“But the initial prognosis had been that he would be back towards the end of the season, rather than in just six weeks, so I would be delighted if it was possible for him to play any part on Saturday.
“It’s still early days. What we definitely don’t want to do is push him back that week too early and then miss him at the end of the season.”
Palace have incredibly won their last two matches away to Chelsea and Zaha played an integral role in their 2-1 win the last time they travelled to Stamford Bridge.
The Ivory Coast international played a part in both goals and finished the April meeting as the WhoScored Man of the Match after garnering a rating of 8.78.
Without Zaha in the starting XI this season, Palace have lost all nine Premier League matches.
