• Premier League

Palace's Guedioura ruled out for six weeks

Adlene Guedioura was stretchered off following a collision with West Brom goalkeeper Boaz Myhill © Getty Images

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Crystal Palace midfielder Adlene Guedioura has been ruled out for six weeks after suffering a punctured lung and two broken ribs in a collision with West Bromwich Albion goalkeeper Boaz Myhill.

The 27-year-old required lengthy treatment on the pitch before being stretchered off during the 2-0 defeat at the Hawthorns, and he will now be sidelined until mid-December at the earliest.

"It doesn't look good for him - he's fractured two ribs and it's damaged his lung as well," caretaker Palace manager Keith Millen told Advertiser Sport.

"For cracked ribs, you're looking at around at least six weeks out. The trouble with cracked ribs is that you can't exercise and you can't get your heart and lungs going.

"Some injuries, you can keep your cardiovascular fitness up, but with this injury you can't do anything.

"In four weeks' time, if he can do some exercise and it's not aggravating him, then great, he can."

Crystal Palace are set to be without the Algeria international for the visits of Everton, Cardiff and West Ham and away trips to Hull, Norwich and Chelsea, with their home game against Newcastle United on December 21 likely to be earmarked as the target for his return.

Guedioura, who joined Palace from Nottingham Forest in the summer, took to Twitter to assure fans that he was on the mend.

"Hi everyone thanks for all your messages and tweets," he tweeted. "Hope to be back after few weeks hopefully. Time to have a rest for the followings days."

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