da leao： [ad_pod ]
da cassino： This article is part of Football FanCast’s Injury News series, which considers the impact of the latest updates on players’ fitness
If you asked the Selhurst Park faithful who one of Crystal Palace’s most consistent performers last season was, it would be safe to assume that a few might answer James Tomkins.
The former West Ham man – who signed for the Eagles in a £10m deal in 2016 – made 28 Premier League appearances last term and scored three goals.
Tomkins has become a key player in SE25 since his arrival, forming a colossal partnership with Mamadou Sakho at the back – Palace managed to keep 12 clean sheets in the Premier League in 2018/19, the sixth-most of all 20 teams.
So, when such an important figure gets a serious injury, surely their return from such an absence would presumably be a highly anticipated one.
Well, not quite.
Tomkins recently made his return to the pitch in an Under-23 game against QPR, playing alongside Sam Woods for over an hour before being substituted, but the general feeling around this corner of south London seems to one of disinterest because of two players.
Gary Cahill and Sakho.
In Tomkins’ absence, the Eagles signed 33-year-old Cahill on a free transfer, and he has been in superb form since his arrival.
He has helped the side to a win over Manchester United at Old Trafford on his debut, impressing some Palace fans with his performance, and a clean sheet against Aston Villa.
Because of Cahill and Sakho, the need for Tomkins is not as pressing as it would’ve been if Cahill had not been signed.
As a result, his low-key return to action for the Under-23’s has flown well under the radar.
Despite starring last season, Tomkins’ situation at Palace has been turned upside down.
It remains to be seen if he can force his way back into the starting XI.