Roy Hodgson hints at not filling Crystal Palace bench for Leeds United clash with star man added to injury woes

Palace currently have a spate of injuries that have put James McArthur, James McCarthy, Jeffrey Schlupp, James Tomkins and Joel Ward on the sidelines.

Star forward Wilfried Zaha was then forced off with a hamstring injury in Tuesday evening's 2-1 win at Newcastle United for which Hodgson only named seven substitutes on a permitted nine-man bench.

Hodgson now has one less option with top scorer Zaha definitely out for the Leeds game and the 73-year-old Eagles boss says there is no point taking youngsters all the way to Elland Road just to make up numbers on the bench.

Asked if he would have a full bench for Leeds at his pre-match press conference and as quoted by www.football.london, Hodgson said: "We won't have a full bench of senior players from our 25, no.

"If we want to fill up the bench it would be players from the Under-23s squad tested in order to get up to 20.

"But, quite frankly, whether I've got 18 or 20 on the bench, that isn't the crucial factor: you can use three.

"So whether it's three from five or three from seven or eight.

"It's no good I think putting players on the bench just to be there.

"Taking them up to Leeds unless you've got some serious thoughts as to using them in the game."

Asked for the details on his side's other injuries aside from Zaha, Hodgson said: "McArthur could be back, McCarthy maybe next week. Tomkins and Schlupp are much further away.

"Joel Ward has a chance for this weekend, but we don't know yet."

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Thank you Laura Collins