JUST IN: Crystal Palace midfielder set for lengthy injury lay-off

The South London Press has learned that Crystal Palace midfielder Cheick Doucoure may be out for up to six months due to an Achilles tendon injury he sustained during Saturday’s 2-1 loss to Luton Town.

At Kenilworth Road, the 23-year-old was taken off on a stretcher in the 49th minute after going down without any opposition players nearby.

Doucoure was only fit enough to start on the bench in Everton’s 3-2 home loss, having only returned to Roy Hodgson’s starting lineup following a hamstring injury sustained in the 2-0 victory over Burnley.

The Mali international Doucoure will now miss the upcoming 2024 Africa Cup of Nations. Since joining the Eagles at the beginning of the 2022–23 season, Doucoure has made 47 appearances for the team.

“He didn’t quite fall, did he?” stated Hodgson.

“From what I witnessed, the player knocked him to the ground and attempted to pull away, landing on him and injuring his ankle.”

Cheick Doucoure had to be stretchered off at Kenilworth Road in the 49th minute after going down with a hamstring injury that had kept him on the bench the previous time out against Everton.

A replacement for the Mali international was Will Hughes.

“He has a serious injury,” Hodgson continued.

“I’ll let the physician handle that first. It won’t be a temporary injury that keeps him out of commission.