CRYSTAL Palace have been dealt a blow this week with the news Danny Butterfield could be out of action for the next month with an ankle injury, the third time this season that a Palace player has been struck by a similar problem.

The 26-year-old was forced off in the first half of Saturday's victory against Coventry City at Selhurst Park, after landing awkwardly on his ankle and he was replaced by Ben Watson for the rest of the game.

Butterfield now joins Tom Soares on the sidelines, with the midfelder ironically also out with a similar problem after turning his ankle in the game with Southampton earlier this month.

He is expected to be out until the match with Cardiff City on October 14.

However, skipper Carl Fletcher could be in with a chance of featuring in the squad for Saturday's game at Hull City after returning to training in the last few days following an ankle injury sustained at Luton Town.