The former Liverpool defender suffered a calf injury last weekend and could face a long period on the sidelines.
Crystal Palace manager Roy Hodgson has admitted to Sky Sports that he is fearful over the severity of the calf injury suffered by defender Mamadou Sakho.
The France international limped out of last Saturday’s 2-2 draw with Bournemouth at Selhurst Park and thus missed the dramatic midweek victory over Watford.
Their comeback win against the Hornets was Palace’s first in the Premier League without Sakho since May, demonstrating his importance to their cause.
Speaking ahead of this weekend’s trip to Leicester City, Hodgson described the muscle strain as “serious” but does not yet know how long Sakho will be sidelined.
“It’s far too early [to tell],” Hodgson is quoted by Sky Sports as saying. “It’s a serious muscle strain or tear and the doctors won’t put a timescale on that. It’s going to be a while that’s for sure.”
Scott Dann and James Tomkins is likely to be Palace’s preferred centre-back pairing in Sakho’s absence, although the festive period may call for some rotation.
Hodgson has previously used full-back Martin Kelly in that role, and could also call summer signing Jairo Reidewald, who has not started since October, in from the cold.
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