Tuesday 25 April 2017 16:10, UK
Defender James Tomkins may not play again for Crystal Palace this season after suffering ankle damage against Liverpool.
Eagles boss Sam Allardyce says they have received positive news that "nothing is broken" after Tomkins met the brunt of a heavy challenge by Marko Grujic in their shock win at Anfield.
But the centre-back is out of Palace's clash with Tottenham, live on Sky Sports 1HD on Wednesday, and is a doubt for their remaining games against Burnley, Manchester City, Hull and Manchester United.
Allardyce said: "It's a bad injury but nothing broken, which we're very pleased about. Considering the volatile nature of the tackle, he's quite lucky there's not more damage.
"But quite whether he'll be fit by the end of the season is a doubt at this moment in time, which is not great for us with Scott Dann being a long-term injury as well.
"But Mamadou Sakho's back, Martin Kelly is playing excellent, and we've got Damien Delaney if we need him. We've got good cover in that area, which shows how important it is to have a big, experienced squad in the Premier League.
"Without this many centre-halves, we could be in dire straits, and not defended as well as we have, and got out of trouble."
Having had just two days to recover from a remarkable 2-1 victory that lifted Palace to 12th in the table and seven points clear of danger, Allardyce admits he is not sure whether to change his side for Spurs' visit.
"The players' recovery is a big question mark, based on the form we are in," he said.
"Do we let them go again? If we do, are they capable of going again? If not, should we change the side? That's the big question we've been asking ourselves today and probably again tomorrow morning.
"Energy to be able to produce another performance like Liverpool is one of the key elements, as well as the mental strength the players have acquired now, so if they haven't go that in the locker we are going to find it tremendously difficult to compete against Tottenham.
"I know the answer from the players will be 'I want to play' and I don't blame them for that, but we have to decide if, from a professional and sensible point of view, that's the right thing to do."
