'Outstanding' Crystal Palace star to miss Arsenal, Everton and Sheff Utd matches with huge injury blow

Crystal Palace are set to be without star man Michael Olise for the rest of January as the tricky winger's latest hamstring injury is more serious than first thought.

The Athletic report that the Eagles will be without the 22-year-old for upcoming Premier League matches against Arsenal and Sheffield United, as well as the FA Cup replay against Everton at Goodison Park. Olise was not in Roy Hodgson's squad on Thursday night when his side played the Toffees at Selhurst Park after picking up the niggle against Brentford at the end of December - a match in which Hodgson labelled the star as 'oustanding'.

Speaking after that 3-1 win over the Bees, with Olise bagging a brace in another impressive performance, Hodgson said: “He didn’t seem overly concerned. I spoke to the doc and he wasn’t shaking his head suggesting he needs a scan tomorrow and we might have to fear the worst.

“We won’t know until he gets back into training and we assess him. I don’t think it was a major snapping of the muscle. But, unfortunately, we’re in that period of football life where you’ve played 20 games, playing three games in a week. I’m afraid people are going to pick up muscle injuries.”

Olise, who suffered a serious hamstring injury last summer and missed the first 11 matches of the Premier League season, could be in contention for the Sheffield United match but the trip to Brighton appears a more realistic target. The latest hamstring problem is not believed to be related to his previous worry.

The London-born Frenchman has four goals and an assist in his last four appearances for Crystal Palace and has become the main source of creativity and attacking flair in Hodgson's side. The club is, at least, buoyed by the return of Eberechi Eze, who has now started the last three fixtures after a period on the sidelines.

Speaking on Olise's injury, Hodgson added: "We’re hoping this one won’t be as bad as the one that put him out for six months. We don’t think and hope it won’t be like that. It’s nowhere near where he injured himself before, so it’s not a recurrence.”