Palace boss Vieira provides major injury update on Super Eagles target pre-Man City

Crystal Palace manager Patrick Vieira has provided a major injury update on Nigeria Football Federation target Eberechi Eze ahead of his side's Premier League match against Manchester City.

The former Arsenal captain revealed that Eze is on the comeback trail having resumed full training with the rest of his teammates but the trip to the Etihad Stadium has come too soon for him.

The former England youth international sustained an Achilles injury in training at the back end of the 2020-2021 season and the initial prognosis after his surgery had suggested that he could be out of action until 2022.

Asked to provide an update on Eze's fitness at Friday's pre-match press conference, Vieira said : "He's been very good. He had a full week with the first team where he did from the start to the end, and is doing really well.

"So I was really pleased with where he is at the moment but it's still too short for him to take part in the game tomorrow".

Eze is making a swift recovery and is in line to make his first appearance of the season before Christmas.

Asked if Eze will be back this side of Christmas in terms of his return to the pitch, Vieira answered : "Hopefully, it will be before Christmas".

In 36 appearances in his first season with the Eagles, 34 in the Premier League and one each in the FA Cup and Carabao Cup, Eze scored four goals while registering six assists.

Ifeanyi Emmanuel