While Alan Pardew welcomed Yannick Bolasie’s return from compassionate leave, Crystal Palace’s manager revealed midfielder Mile Jedinak will miss the final fixture before the upcoming two-week international break – and Australia’s 2018 World Cup qualifying games with Bangladesh and Tajikistan.
The club captain, 31, limped out of the Capital One Cup win over Shrewsbury in midweek early in the second half because of a hamstring injury.
Palace are awaiting the results of a scan to determine the extent of the damage.
Pardew said: “Mile has a little hamstring problem and definitely won’t be involved at Chelsea.
“It looks like he will be out for two-to-three weeks, to me. And he will probably miss the international window, too.”
However, goalkeeper Julian Speroni has returned to full fitness after a hand problem, but it looks like Alex McCarthy will retain the gloves against Chelsea.
“Alex has done really well, I think. And the group of three goalkeepers are competing and that’s keeping Alex exactly where I want him,” said Pardew.
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“It’s that level of competition that we have in a lot of positions now so they come into the same category as my outfield players. Real competition to get into the side and of course that bodes well for the team.”
