Nikola Tavares is delighted to be back in action for Crystal Palace.

Tavares played against Bristol City U23 last Monday but had been suffering over recent months due to a prolonged injury which he is only just fully returning from.

“[I was out for] eight months, ACL. But I haven't felt it since, almost like I haven't done it. Fingers crossed that stays the same."

Similarly, first-team centre-back Scott Dann has been forced away from featuring on the pitch due to a nine-month long knee injury, an injury from which he still hasn't been able to return to first-team action because of. His recovery time married Tavares'.

He told cpfc.co.uk: “We went through the recovery period together. He's always helped me out, you know, always speaking to me [and] giving me points. Even in training when he came over to the 23s. But, yeah, great guy. And we've come back around the same period of time so we've done well together."