Roy Hodgson's Crystal Palace remain without several important players going into Saturday's game against the Premier League's basement side Sheffield United.

The defence remains hit by injuries, as centre-back James Tomkins continues his spell out after surgery on a fractured eye socket, while Mamadou Sakho also remains in the treatment room alongside Nathan Ferguson.

Gary Cahill was fit to make the bench for the Manchester City game last time out though, after he was absent from the previous match due to a knock.

In the absence of several key centre-backs, Scott Dann and Cheikou Kouyate have partnered up at the heart of the back four, and they are expected to play again on Saturday.

Further up the pitch, Scottish midfielder James McCarthur will remain out of action with a calf injury, while his compatriot James McCarthy has struggled for starting opportunities as Jairo Riedewald and Luka Milivojevic have built a solid pairing in the middle of the pitch.

Striker Connor Wickham also remains out, having only made the bench three times in the Premier League this season due to two lengthy spells on the sidelines.

Christian Benteke will lead the line alongside Wilfried Zaha, who netted his 10th league goal of the season in their recent 2-1 defeat to Leicester City.

The front two will be supported by the attacking threat of 22-year-old attacking midfielder Ebere Eze, who has impressed in his first season in the top flight following a move from Queens Park Rangers in the summer.

He scored his second Premier League goal in the reverse fixture of this encounter in January, as he netted an eye-catching solo goal to double the Eagles' lead, and they went on to win 2-0.

Crystal Palace possible starting XI: Guaita; Ward, Dann, Kouyate, Mitchell; Townsend, Riedewald, Milivojevic, Eze; Zaha, Benteke

> Click here to see how Sheffield United could line up for this contest

Video prediction

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