Crystal Palace boost as Ipswich Town suffer injury blow to 'really good' player loved by Pep Guardiola

Crystal Palace could face an Ipswich Town side without midfield linchpin Kalvin Phillips next weekend in the next taste of Premier League action for Oliver Glasner’s side.

The Eagles host Millwall in the FA Cup on Saturday before the visit of the Tractor Boys on Saturday, March 8. Crystal Palace have won their last two top flight outings with an aggregate score of 6-1 thanks to victories over Fulham at Craven Cottage and Aston Villa at Selhurst Park.

The South London club are now 12th in the Premier League table after an inconsistent start to the season and, once again, will look to finish the campaign strongly. Crystal Palace play relegation-threatened Ipswich Town and Southampton in their next two, offering the chance to get more points on the board.

Ipswich Town injury blow ahead of Crystal Palace

Ipswich Town haven’t won a Premier League match since the end of December, when beating Chelsea 2-0 in a surprise win. Kieran McKenna’s side have only managed three wins this season.

McKenna will take his side to Crystal Palace next weekend and could be without the services of Phillips. The former Leeds United, Manchester City and West Ham man was not involved against Manchester United in midweek and the manager confirmed an injury concern, picked up in the clash against Tottenham Hotspur.

He said: “Obviously his injury from the other day that meant he wasn’t available. Again, to be honest, we’re not sure on timescales. Not a very long injury, but we’re not sure over the next game or two whether he’ll be available.”

Ipswich Town play Nottingham Forest in the fifth round of the FA Cup on Monday night before the league clash with Crystal Palace. Phillips, who is on loan from Manchester City, has already missed two games with an ankle injury and one through suspension this term.

The midfielder had started against Tottenham Hotspur and Aston Villa this month. The defensive midfielder is key to breaking up opposition moves when on the pitch and McKenna could be left having to find a workaround over the next couple of weeks.

Ex West Ham man backed by Pep Guardiola

Phillips has struggled to impress since moving to Manchester City from Leeds United, a disappointing loan spell at West Ham not doing wonders last term. Nonetheless, the player has retained the backing from Pep Guardiola.

Speaking last July, after a pre-season fixture against Barcelona, the Manchester City manager said: "Kalvin was really good. When he can get the ball and see all of the pitch in front of him he is a really good player.

"When I have him in smaller spaces we have more problems. With the ball he was really good and helped us a lot. I am very, very pleased with his performance."

Ipswich Town are also sweating over the fitness of Omari Hutchinson, who was on the receiving end of a high challenge from Patrick Dorgu, which led to a red card for the Dane following a VAR review. McKenna said: “I’ve not heard from the medical team in terms of anything, but we’ll have to assess it.

“It’s obviously heavy damage on his shin, but he managed to play on for a bit, so you’d hope there’s nothing serious, serious, serious there, it’s just the heavy impact that he received.”

In other news, Crystal Palace could have an injury blow of their own ahead of the FA Cup tie with Millwall this weekend.