Zaha’s injury an opportunity for Palace’s Lee Chung-yong to impress

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The Eagles talisman was confirmed to be out for over a month by manager Roy Hodgson.

Earlier today Roy Hodgson confirmed that he would be without his star player Wilfried Zaha, 25, for up to a month, with the Ivorian winger having picked up an injury in last weekend’s draw against Newcastle United.

The former Manchester United player managed to play through the pain and complete the 90 minutes. However, the club may be made to pay for taking such a risk as Zaha’s knee appears to be more aggravated than first expected.

Hodgson quickly quashed rumours that the Eagles ace would be sidelined for several months, after the player bagged four goals in 20 games this season.

According to the BBC, Hodgson said: “If he recovered in a week or two it would be a fantastic effort, but it’s more realistic we’d have to wait a month for him.”

With Zaha joining fellow wide man Bakary Sako, who is out for the rest of the season, on the injury list there is an opportunity for one of several Palace fringe players to put their hand up for selection.

Teenage prospect Jason Lokilo and former Bolton star Lee Chung-yong are two individuals who should be chomping at the bit to stand in place for Zaha and Sako, with both players having experienced minimal game time this term.

Lokilo was handed his senior debut earlier on in the season by Frank de Boer in a League Cup tie back in August. Despite not featuring since, Hodgson may favour taking a punt on the Belgian teenager.

Perhaps a more realistic stand-in option for Zaha, however, would be Lee Chung-yong. The 78-capped South Korean international has bags of experience, but has failed to hold down a regular starting spot at Selhurst Park since his move from Bolton Wanderers in 2015.

At Bolton, Lee was a useful player and a relative mainstay in the team, netting 20 goals in nearly 200 games for Wanderers.

The South Korean will feel he has a point to prove following a failed deadline day loan move back to Bolton, which was reportedly blocked by Roy Hodgson according to Lee’s representatives.

If these claims are true, the former England boss clearly has some sort of plan up his sleeve for Lee, and it could prove to be a decision that pays off given the current winger crisis at Palace.