Blow for Palace as Allardyce rules Sakho out

Crystal Palace may have seen the last of Mamadou Sakho after Sam Allardyce ruled him out of its Premier League run in.

Published : May 11, 2017 22:35 IST

Mamadou Sakho will not feature in Crystal Palace's remaining two matches of the Premier League season, said manager Sam Allardyce.

The France defender, who joined on loan from Liverpool in January, was in fine form for the Eagles until he sustained knee ligament damage in the 1-0 loss against Tottenham last month.

Sakho missed defeats to Burnley and Manchester City and will not be involved in the crucial relegation six-pointer with Hull City on Saturday.

Allardyce has confirmed the 27-year-old is unlikely to have enough time to recover for the final-day visit to Manchester United.

"I don't think [he will play against United]," Allardyce told a news conference.

"He has been away in France, and is back here now, but I think it won't be a long enough recovery period to think he will be available for Old Trafford."

"I didn't get my hopes up too much and we had to wait for the scans. Perhaps if he was a quick healer he might have had a chance, but that hasn't proved to be the case."

Palace are four points clear of Hull and know a draw with the Tigers at Selhurst Park will secure another season in the top flight.

And Allardyce called on his team to deliver a performance to match the importance of the occasion.

"We have to hold our nerve Sunday and make sure we produce our best performance," he added.

"Our crowd will be a big help, but they can't get nervous because that will pass over to the players. [We] have to hold our nerve. The pressure lies with Hull. They have to win, we only have to avoid losing."

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