Crystal Palace boss Roy Hodgson says fullback Nathan Ferguson is closer to a playing return.

Before tonight's clash with Manchester United, the manager revealed that Nathan Ferguson is recovering well, and could be set to join first-team training soon.

“It was Nathan Ferguson's first day training with the squad on Monday," he said. “But it will be the Under-23s squad for the first couple of weeks because we don't want to thrust him straight into the first-team squad in case he does any further damage.

“So we'll give him two weeks in the U23s before he comes up here."