Crystal Palace boss Alan Pardew this morning confirmed that he would be without the services of Pape Souaré for up to six months as the defender begins his long road to recovery after a road crash.
The Senegalese international broke his thigh and had to be airlifted to hospital after the crash on the M4 motorway in London.
"He isn't having the best of times, but we're all very supportive," Pardew told the BBC. "We love Pape and can't wait to have him back."
Asked what the recovery time-frame is for the injury he replied: "Four, five months. Maybe six, he should be up and running again.
"I don't think we have any concerns about Pape returning. It was a broken thigh, that should repair as normal.
"It was a terrible accident. We owe a huge debt to the London Air Ambulance and the surgeons who helped him."
The injury will also rule him out of the Africa Cup of Nations in January. The 26-yaer-old joined Palace from Lille in January 2015 and has 46 Premier League appearances for the side.
WATCH: @CPFC defender Pape Souare out for up to six months after car crash: https://t.co/KDJGLsUUSz #SSNHQ https://t.co/cg8DSMaRTS
— Sky Sports News HQ (@SkySportsNewsHQ) September 16, 2016
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