Crystal Palace boss provides injury news ahead of Wolves – with Dean Henderson signed up from Manchester United
Crystal Palace boss Roy Hodgson has confirmed that Sam Johnstone is set to start Sunday’s Premier League clash against Wolves despite the club signing Dean Henderson from Manchester United.
The Eagles agreed a £15million deal with a further £5million in add-ons.
Henderson, 26, penned a five-year contract at Selhurst Park.
England stopper Johnstone, 30, has started every game under Hodgson since he replaced Patrick Vieira for the final 10 games of last season.
“Sam Johnstone will be in goal against Wolves,” confirmed Hodgson.
“Dean’s only just arrived at the club and he needs to get to know the club and get to know his teammates before he can really provide the competition we’re expecting him to do.
“We signed him because he is very good. We were able to persuade him to come here and now there is a situation where, like several other teams, we are looking at two goalkeepers, either of whom can play in the first team and both of whom will be accepting of the fact that they do both want to play and they’ll have to accept the competition that provides.”
Wingers Michael Olise and Matheus Franca, signed from Flamengo this summer, have both missed the start of the season through injury.
Olise picked up a hamstring tear on international duty with France’s U21 side and Franca has a stress problem in his back.
“Matheus is with our medical department and we are keeping an eye on his situation,” Hodgson added.
“He is due to have another scan fairly soon to see if there is any improvement in the original problem we had to deal with.
“But I don’t have an update in terms of the time he will come back and joins us. We have to accept that he is one we have to wait on, as we still have to wait on Michael Olise.
“Michael had a very serious injury and the injury we’ve discovered with Matheus needs to be looked after.”
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