Crystal Palace hope that Dean Henderson will return from his thigh injury in time to play before the New Year.
Henderson was forced off on his Palace debut in September’s 3-0 Carabao Cup defeat by Manchester United - the club he left after 12 years to join the Eagles for £20million in the summer.
The 26-year-old one-cap England international had hoped to go toe-to-toe with Sam Johnstone for the No1 shirt at Palace before sustaining the injury.
The club are hopeful that Henderson, who signed a five-year deal at Selhurst Park, will make his long-awaited return before the end of December, while the FA Cup third round in early January represents a likely opportunity for a second Palace start.
13th-place Palace visit West Ham in the Premier League on Sunday, and midfielder Jefferson Lerma is wary of their threat.
The Colombian international said: “It’s no secret that they have good players. They are in a good moment.
"But we are preparing well. I think it’s a good opportunity [for us] to succeed.”
