There may be an ever-growing queue outside the Crystal Palace treatment room, but Alan Pardew will not be rushed into sending his latest acquisition into the action.
Palace signed Belgian 17-year-old Jason Lokilo earlier this week after he spent the summer training with the U18s and U21s.
And Pardew will be without Connor Wickham, Joel Ward, Mile Jedinak and Damien Delaney for the visit of West Bromwich Albion this weekend.
However, he said: “Jason's a young player that we bought from abroad, he has fantastic technical ability. He's one for the future.
“Yes, we have key players out, who we need to get them back, but the medical team tell me they will be for West Ham [on October 17].”
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Ahead the Baggies’ visit tomorrow, Palace’s home form in the Premier League reads less favourably in comparison to their away form.
The Eagles have won once in three games at Selhurst Park, against three wins in four on the road.
It is a trend Pardew believes is reflected across the Premier League with only seven teams winning more than one match at home, and only three teams unbeaten, so far this season.
However, he cannot see it continuing as the season settles down.
He said: “It will correct itself in the Premier League and we hope to be a part of that. To be fair, we’ve had a tough start [against Arsenal, Aston Villa and Manchester City], and we've got a good points total out of that.
“I try to win the game. Sometimes away from home against the top teams, the territory becomes the opposition's.”
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