Crystal Palace given injury boost for season opener with Eberechi Eze back in training

Roy Hodgson has been handed a rare injury boost ahead of the start of the new season with Eberechi Eze stepping up his preparations ahead of Crystal Palace's opener on Saturday.

The summer signing, who joined from Queens Park Rangers for an initial £16million which could rise to almost £20million last month, picked up a groin problem after just 45 minutes in a Palace shirt in a pre-season friendly against Charlton.

The 22-year-old subsequently withdrew from Aidy Boothroyd's England Under-21 squad raising doubts over whether or not he could start the season with his new club.

Eze, however, has returned to training this week as Hodgson prepare's to begin the new season against Southampton at Selhurst Park on Saturday.

Fellow summer signing Nathan Ferguson is still working his way back to fitness from a long term knee injury.

Should Hodgson want to involve Michy Batshuayi - who will join on loan from Chelsea - against the Saints, he will have to be registered as a Crystal Palace player by 12pm on Friday.

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