EPL: Bournemouth v Crystal Palace preview

Bournemouth v Crystal Palace preview

Crystal Palace face a striker shortage when they travel to Bournemouth in the Premier League on Saturday.

Christian Benteke is out for Palace after suffering a groin injury in training on Thursday, with the Belgian joining fellow forwards Alexander Sorloth and Connor Wickham on the sidelines.

"Really disappointed I can't be out there helping the team tomorrow," Benteke wrote on Twitter on Friday.

 

"I picked up a slight injury in training that shouldn't keep me out for long. The timing is frustrating but I'm sure the boys will bring three points home!"

Palace start the weekend two points above the relegation zone, having lost five of their last six games.

 

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Bournemouth are nine points above the bottom three, but although they could reach the 40-point mark with victory on Saturday, manager Eddie Howe will still be taking nothing for granted.

"Until it's mathematically certain, we're in a battle to stay in the division. I want my players to play with confidence and freedom," he said.

 

Benteke, Sorloth and Wickham are all out injured. James Tomkins is again available for selection, but Jeffrey Schlupp, Joel Ward, Scott Dann, Jason Puncheon and Bakary Sako remain long-term absentees.

 

Eddie Howe says Bournemouth's Premier League match against Crystal Palace this weekend is huge in the fight against relegation

Bourmemouth's Junior Stanislas will miss the rest of the season following surgery on a knee injury.

Stanislas was taken off early in the second half of last weekend's 2-2 draw at Watford and further tests show anterior ligament damage.

Captain Simon Francis (hamstring) will be assessed and forward Lys Mousset could be available again following injury.

Defender Adam Smith remains sidelined by a knee problem, while Tyrone Mings (back) also continues his rehabilitation from a back injury.