Crystal Palace hopeful over looming Dean Henderson return after debut injury nightmare | OneFootball

Dean Henderson was injured on his Crystal Palace debut against former club Manchester United

Manchester United via Getty Imag

Crystal Palace hope that Dean Henderson will return from his thigh injury in time to play before the New Year.

Henderson was forced off on his Palace debut in September’s 3-0 Carabao Cup defeat by Manchester United - the club he left after 12 years to join the Eagles for £20million in the summer.

The 26-year-old one-cap England international had hoped to go toe-to-toe with Sam Johnstone for the No1 shirt at Palace before sustaining the injury.

The club are hopeful that Henderson, who signed a five-year deal at Selhurst Park, will make his long-awaited return before the end of December, while the FA Cup third round in early January represents a likely opportunity for a second Palace start.

13th-place Palace visit West Ham in the Premier League on Sunday, and midfielder Jefferson Lerma is wary of their threat.