December 1 2009

Paddy McCarthy

Crystal Palace defender Paddy McCarthy will be out for three months to have an operation on his shoulder injury.

The 26-year-old hurt the same shoulder he had surgery on last season during training and went under the knife this week after surgeons said it could not wait until the summer.

Manager Neil Warnock will be hoping current centre back pairing Claude Davis and Jose Fonte can stay fit and free of suspension while Dubliner McCarthy is out.

"Paddy needed an operation," said Warnock. "It's a blow but it's got to done and he will be out for three months.

"We have got to wrap Claude Davis and Jose Fonte in cotton wool now."