CRYSTAL Palace have been dealt a blow by the news midfielder Tom Soares is likely to be sidelined for the next few months after suffering an ankle injury in the game with Southampton on Tuesday night.

The 20-year-old limped off at half time in the Selhurst Park clash and was replaced in the second half by Stuart Green after a challenge in added time of the first half.

After undergoing further inspection of the injury it was revealed later by boss Peter Taylor the England under-21 international is likely to be ruled out for longer than anyone would want at the moment.

Taylor said: "It's doesn't look very good.

"It could be two or three months because it looks as though he might have a little crack in his ankle."

It now means Palace will be without the midfield services of Soares, Ben Watson and skipper Carl Fletcher over the next few weeks, something which Taylor could do without.

However, it does give other players in the squad a chance to come into the equation and try to force themselves into the first team reckoning.

Taylor said: "I don't want to make excuses but I think to lose Ben Watson, Carl Fletcher and Tom, who are defensive midfielder players as well as Tom who is an attacking midfielder, it has hurt us a bit.

"Nobody is going to feel sorry for us though, you have to do it yourself and it's what we will do."

Fletcher, who picked up his injury at Luton Town last weekend, is expected to miss at least the next two games and when asked if he would be considering a loan to boost the midfield, Taylor revealed: "It's only just happened, so I'll have a think about it."