Crystal Palace injury updates ahead of Arsenal: Return dates for Olise, Butland, McArthur & Johnstone

All eyes will be on Selhurst Park on Friday, as Crystal Palace take on Arsenal under the lights for the Premier League opener.

The Eagles will be hoping to continue their stellar first season form under Patrick Vieira this campaign, after reaching the FA Cup semi final earlier in the year.

Arsenal will be favourites coming into the game - with new signings Gabriel Jesus and Oleg Zinchenko bolstering the square - but the last time the Gunners headed south of the river, their top four ambitions suffered a significant blow with a 3-0 defeat and an injury to Thomas Partey.

Palace have added some fresh faces to their team, but it’s the addition of the hard-working Cheick Doucouré from Lens that fans will be looking forward to seeing after a long summer chase.

Eberechi Eze has also been lighting up pre-season, so it will be interesting to see if he takes that form into the main season having missed a chunk of last year through injury.

Vieira and his coaching staff have some injury concerns and will be working round the clock to see if they can get them back in time for the Premier League take-off.

James McArthur

The experienced midfielder started pre-season and was looking forward to a strong start to the league campaign, which is likely to be his last season at the club.

But a pelvic issue has knocked him out of the opening game on Friday night.

When he’s in the team, he is one of the hardest working and arguably one of the most underrated players in the Premier League,

There is definitely a role for him to play this season, he just has to get fit first.

Potential return date: Brentford (H) August 30

Jack Butland

There had been reports that he was on his way out of the club following the signing of Sam Johnstone, but the England stopper started pre-season before breaking his wrist against Manchester United.

If he does stay he will have to fight hard to have the same game time he had last season, given the added competition for playing time.

He posted a picture of his injured wrist recently, but said he would be back before fans know it - and will be targeting a September return.

Potential return date: Manchester United (H) September 11

Michael Olise

Has been unlucky with this foot injury that he picked up while with the France under-21 team at the tail end of last season.

Hasn’t played a part in pre-season and is just getting back to ball work on an individual level at the moment.

He will not be part on Friday night but there is optimism growing within the club that he should be ready for group training in the next couple of weeks.

Potential return: Newcastle (A) September 3

Sam Johnstone

The English goalkeeper is reported to have an issue with his thigh - it’s nothing serious but he will likely miss the Arsenal game as a precaution.

Most fans will be quite keen to see what he brings between the posts, having been highly-rated in the English game for a while.

Potential return: Aston Villa (H) August 20