Crystal Palace will be without the services of Paddy McCarthy for three months after it was confirmed he will have an operation tomorrow.
The defender visited specialist David Potter this morning after injuring the same shoulder he had surgery on last season with the hope of putting off going under the knife until the summer.
However, Potter confirmed the damaged done to the joint was extensive enough to warrant surgery straight away.
"He is having an operation tomorrow," said manager Neil Warnock.
"It's a blow but it's got to done and he will be out for three months.
"We have got to wrap Claude Davis and Jose Fonte in cotton wool now."
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