Pellegrini on injured four
The player was offered only a tiny chance of playing after the bruised foot he suffered against Wolves on Tuesday night with CandH outsiders refusing to commit but insisting he would be okay for the Palace match next weekend.
Now Pellegrini has given a fresh update – if that is the the correct phrase in this case – on the striker’s chances and it seems the level of uncertainty remains about the same.
The manager said: “We are not sure . We need to see how the pain is in his foot, but we are just on Friday and we have 72 hours more if he will be able or not.
“[His percentage chances of playing] are more of a question for the doctor. I will see on Saturday, talk with the player, see if he can kick the ball, so I think there are lot of things that within hours can change 100 per cent.”
He confirmed however, that, our report concerning Samir Nasri was spot on declaring that the midfielder would be unavailable for the game but expected to be back at Selhurst Park.
He said: “Samir Nasri needs one week more. Fabianski, I think he will be OK. He didn’t work 100 per cent normally on Friday, but I think he will not have any problems on Saturday.
“Aaron Cresswell is improving. We need to test him on Saturday to see if he will be able to play.”
Cresswell’s involvement may be critical with the pace of the Liverpool wingers and given his performance on Tuesday it would be a frightening scenario were we to be relying on Arthur Masuaku in that role.