Scott Dann believes teammate James McArthur is the player Crystal Palace have missed most through injury.

McArthur has been sidelined since the defeat to Bournemouth on February 2 with an ankle ligament problem, which was initially expected to rule him out for the season.

However, McArthur is hoping to play a part before the end of the current campaign, and Dann is desperate to have him back.

“He’s probably one of the players people outside of our team and outside of the club, fans included, might not notice how much of a big player he is,” said the defender.

“For us he is a massive player. He’s probably the player I would say we have missed the most.”

Palace have had to deal with injuries to a number of players since the turn of the year, with Connor Wickham, Yannick Bolasie and Yohan Cabaye all enduring spells out.

However, Dann insisted McArthur’s desire to win has been a huge loss, and would love to see the Scotland international play any part in the final games of the season.

“We’ve had a number of injuries at the wrong time,” Dann added.

“He is just someone who has got that energy and that will to win, he’s been a massive miss.

“To get him back in any way between now and the end of the season, which we weren’t expecting, is credit to him because he has worked so hard.

“Hopefully he can come back, whether that’s at Manchester United, the semi-final or after that, he will be welcome.”

The centre-back also hailed McArthur’s attitude on the pitch, although he admitted it is probably what cost him even more time out.

“He never keeps still, he never shuts up,” joked Dann.

“He’s a great lad to have around, great lad to be in the same team as, you know what you’re getting from him week in week out.

“When he had the injury he carried on for 25 minutes and then he ruptured his ankle ligaments, so it just shows the type of player he is.

“Any team in the league would miss a player like him.”

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