---
title: "Crystal Palace: Roy Hodgson delivers positive injury update on James McCarthy"
canonical: "https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/crystal-palace-roy-hodgson-james-mccarthy-premier-league-injury-team-news-roy-hodgson-brighton/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Luke Seychell"
section: "Crystal Palace"
published: "2021-02-20T12:15:50Z"
modified: "2021-02-20T12:15:50Z"
---

# Crystal Palace: Roy Hodgson delivers positive injury update on James McCarthy

**Crystal Palace have somewhat of an [injury crisis](https://www.premierinjuries.com/injury-table.php) at the moment, but one player seems to be close to returning and the club will be hoping he can be involved against Brighton and Hove Albion on Monday.**

### The latest Palace injury update

Irishman James McCarthy has been absent since the [30th](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/james-mccarthy/leistungsdatendetails/spieler/45333/wettbewerb/GB1/saison/2020) of January due to a minor injury issue. Speaking in his press conference previewing the huge clash against Brighton and Hove Albion, manager Roy Hodgson [said](https://twitter.com/CPFC/status/1362389413863563264?s=20): ‘James McCarthy trained today which is positive’

### This is a boost for Palace

The Palace manager is clearly an admirer of the central midfielder as he called him a ‘[class act](https://www.cpfc.co.uk/news/2020/january/press-conference-roy-hodgson-crystal-palace-v-southampton/)‘ last season. The [30](https://www.whoscored.com/Players/31281/Show/James-McCarthy) year-old is seen as a player who provides some depth and can be called upon when needed, this is emphasised by the fact he has only featured in [eight](https://www.whoscored.com/Players/31281/Show/James-McCarthy) Premier League games this season. However, when called upon he does a solid job, and has managed 1.4 tackles a game ([WhoScored](https://www.whoscored.com/Players/31281/Show/James-McCarthy)).

This depth he provides, plus the fact that the South London side have not named a midfielder on their substitute bench in [recent matches](https://m.football-lineups.com/team/Crystal-Palace/) shows that his possible return is needed.

The club also have at least [nine](https://www.premierinjuries.com/injury-table.php) injuries at the moment, and with them losing their last two matches, players returning from injury will be a huge morale boost.

[In other news, many Palace fans have reacted to rumours linking a Serie A defender to the club!](https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/crystal-palace-transfer-rumours/crystal-palace-radu-dragusin-transfer-premier-league-newcastle-roy-hodgson-simon-parish-selhurst-park-gossip-rumours-news/)