Tony Pulis admits Marouane Chamakh’s hamstring injury is a big blow to Crystal Palace’s Premier League survival bid.
Chamakh will miss tomorrow’s trip to Sunderland and could be out for a few weeks. Palace will assess the problem next week but Pulis admits he does not know when the former Arsenal forward, 30, will return to fitness.
Pulis said: “It is a pretty bad one, which is a blow for us because he has done so well. He has been a real quality player for us. He has enjoyed the position we have asked him to play and he has got some quality. We have played through him and played some really good football when he has played.
“He will be a big miss as he has been very good since I have come to Palace. He has got that little bit of quality you need and he has played exceptionally well since I have been here. So it is a big blow in lots of respects.”
Palace are two points above the relegation zone before their game at the Stadium of Light.
Pulis added: “We have had such a great run that people forget that this is the Premier League and this is going to be really tough.
“The hard work and effort the lads have put in over the last three months has been fantastic. The next few months they will have to do the same and, if anything, they will have to do a bit more.”
Pulis has spoken to referee bosses this week about some of Howard Webb’s decisions in last weekend’s 1-0 defeat against Southampton.
The Palace boss was unhappy that Webb did not send off Southampton defender Dejan Lovren, who appeared to be the last man when he upended Yannick Bolasie 20 yards from goal.
Pulis was also unhappy when Glenn Murray and Joe Ledley were flagged offside.
“The decision on the edge of the box when Lovren brings down Bolasie, that is a sending off,” said Pulis. “They say that Nathaniel Clyne is going to get back but he is not. So that is a sending off.”
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