Football
8y

Crystal Palace's Wilfried Zaha expected to be fit for FA Cup final

Crystal Palace boss Alan Pardew is hopeful Wilfried Zaha will be fit to face former club Manchester United in the FA Cup final.

Zaha, who had a brief and unsuccessful spell at Old Trafford, aggravated a muscle tear during the 2-1 semifinal victory over Watford.

The injury means he has no prospect of playing in Saturday's Premier League clash at home to Stoke, but Pardew said Zaha is "a naturally fit guy" and that he is on course to be available for the FA Cup final on May 21.

"Wilf still has a bit of a problem, but should be fine by the final," the Palace boss told a news conference. 

"There's no way Wilf will play this weekend, we don't want to risk him, but he may play at Southampton [on May 15]."

Pardew also confirmed that South Korea international Chung-Yong Lee is set to be fined after criticising the manager in an interview in his homeland.

Lee was quoted as telling Sports Seoul that he wants to leave Palace, adding that Pardew is "too hot tempered in matches" and "runs the team with very short-term vision."

Pardew said on Thursday: "He said it was lost in translation, but some of what he said wasn't lost in translation and he'll be fined for that."

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