Crystal Palace has been hit hard with injuries this season. The side currently have five players who aren’t quite at full fitness, including, Andros Townsend, Jeffery Schlupp, Christian Benteke, Patrick van Aanholt and Mamadou Sakho. Luka Milivojevic is also suspended. This information was provided by premierinjuries.com. A fully fit side could provide a boost to the Eagles, a sentiment that Roy Hodgson agrees with.
“I think our biggest boost in the next few weeks will come from players recovering from injuries. When they do come back it will feel like having new players at the club,” said the manager via the club’s official Twitter account.
When the club posted this quote, it left many fans worried. Worried that, in anticipation of these players returning, the club wouldn’t be recruiting anyone during the January window. They are shocked at the club’s inability to bring players in, claiming that the returning players won’t be enough.
https://twitter.com/markie_poos/status/1219375848731574272
If this means we aren’t making anymore signings that is ridiculous. We sold our main rb months ago and still haven’t replaced him
— matthew (@matthew01700823) January 20, 2020
In other words no new signings
— Tickers (@tickers23) January 20, 2020
Supporting palace we all know that’s the end of our window.
— Thomas Gothard (@ThomasGothard) January 20, 2020
No need for new players then! Lazy excuse
— Oliver Render (@OliverRender) January 20, 2020
Do you think Hodgson will use returning players as an excuse not to make signings?
Yes
No
Two fans even claim that not all the returning players deserve a starting spot. They are worried that Jairo Riedewald will be unfairly dropped because of Van Aanholt’s return.
Don’t you dare drop Jairo
— Luke (@PalaceLuke) January 20, 2020
IF YOU DARE DROP JAIRO
— tom (@JairosStory) January 20, 2020
What do we think?
It is clear to the fans that returning players can’t help the side meet their season objective. They urge their club to dip its toes into the transfer window and strengthen the squad by bringing in outside players. With little time left in the window, however, time is running out quickly.