Crystal Palace dealt potential injury blow ahead of Chelsea Premier League opener

Crystal Palace have been handed a potential injury blow ahead of the Premier League opener with Chelseanext weekend. The Blues will host the Eagles in their first fixture of the new Premier League season next Sunday at Stamford Bridge.

Enzo Maresca's side will take to the pitch next weekend in their first competitive match since winning the FIFA Club World Cup over the summer.

Palace also go into the new season in a confident mood after winning the FA Cup against Manchester City in last season's final. That victory earned Oliver Glasner's side a place in the Community Shield, where they face Premier League winners Liverpool at Wembley Stadium on Sunday.

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It was during the annual season curtain-raiser that Palace were dealt the injury blow. In the first half, the Eagles were forced into an early substitution with Daichi Kamada being substituted after the midfielder was unable to continue in the match.

Palace replaced Kamada with Will Hughes in the middle of the park. It remains to be seen how severe the potential injury suffered by Kamada is, and whether or not the Japan international will be a doubt for the Premier League opener against Chelsea next weekend.

Glasner's side also had Chadi Riad, Cheick Doucoure, Eddie Nketiah, Matheus Franca and Caleb Kporha on the sidelines for the Community Shield against Liverpool on Sunday.

Chelsea have some injury concerns of their own heading into the new season. Levi Colwill recently suffered an ACL injury and is expected to be sidelines for several months after the club confirmed the defender had underwent successful surgery.

The Blues were also without Benoit Badiashile and Wesley Fofana for the pre-season friendly against AC Milan on Sunday afternoon at Stamford Bridge.

"It is a priority for me," Maresca told Channel 5 when asked about signing a new defender given the injuries ar the back. "Levi is a fantastic player.

"What we achieved last season is because of him. He played a lot of games with me, I love him. We are going to miss him. We are trying also to find different solutions."