Crystal Palace suffer huge injury blow to key goalkeeper with barely a week to start season

Patrick Vieira has been left scratching his head with an injury to goalkeeper Jack Butland, who will not be part of the opening game next week.

The goalkeeper himself confirmed he had broken his hand just as Crystal Palace were beginning to prepare for their opener against Arsenal on August 5.

The goalkeeper picked up the injury against Manchester United in preseason, and he will now have to watch from the stands as his teammates go in search of a strong start to the season.

The Eagles have brought in the former West Brom goalkeeper Sam Johnstone, after his contract had run out at the Hawthorns, beating off competition from other Premier League, and he is now in line to be in the team with injury to Butland.

The arrival of Johnstone to supplement Vicente Guaita and Butland has made competition high for the number one jumper.

Manager Patrick Vieira is hoping to build a team of fighters, where minutes on the pitch will have to be earned.

But he would have been disappointed with news of the injury to Butland, who played in the FA semi-final last season and was pushing Guaita all the way.

Crystal Palace’s tricky start to the new Premier League season will test their resolve

The Eagles have a difficult start to the season, as they have to play the trio of Arsenal, Liverpool and Manchester City in their first four games of the season, with Steven Gerrard’s Aston Villa thrown into the mix.

Vieira’s side came just short of equalling their all time Premier League best points tally of 49, finishing the campaign just one short.

But they will have to be ready for a rough start if they are to hit the heights of last season.

They have made some interesting additions to the squad, but the one that excites fans is that of Cheick Doucouré.

The former Lens m who is expected to dazzle fans and provide the solidity that is required in the middle of the pitch.

The future of star man Wilfried Zaha has also raised eyebrows recently with Chelsea hovering around the winger with just a year left on his contract.