August 7 2004

Danny Butterfield

Danny Butterfield is out for at least six weeks with a hamstring injury.

The Palace right-back tore his hamstring in two places in the Eagles' 3-0 friendly defeat at QPR last weekend.

It means Mikele Leigertwood or new signing Emmerson Boyce will replace him for Palace's opening game at Norwich next Saturday.

"I've hardly missed a game of football in three years," Butterfield told the Croydon Advertiser. "Then, in possibly the biggest season of my career, I've gone and got injured in pre-season. I'm obviously gutted.

"We all know as footballers that you are going to get injuries along the way. I'm disappointed that it's come this season when it's such a big one for us. Hopefully I'll come back and not miss a game from then on in."

Striker Neil Shipperley is Palace's other injury, and he'll miss the next four weeks with tendonitis on his knee.

Butterfield, 24, commited his future to Palace by signing a four-year contract last week. He added: "I'm delighted to have signed for four years and I'm looking forward to the start of the season. I'm happy with what I'm getting paid and now I can just concentrate on football matters."