Crystal Palace and England dealt HUGE blow as Marc Guehi undergoes surgery for knee injury sustained in defeat against Brighton… with Eagles defender set to miss six to eight weeks of action

Crystal Palace and England have been dealt a blow after centre-back Marc Guehi underwent surgery following a setback on his return from a knee injury.

Mail Sport can reveal that the defender has suffered complications from a knee problem he suffered in the defeat to Brighton on February 3.

Guehi was seen by a knee specialist in London over the past 24 hours to determine the full extent of the problem and has now undergone the procedure.

If his recovery goes as planned, Guehi will be out for six to eight weeks.

Guehi suffered a hyperextended knee at the Amex earlier this month and the defender was expected to be fit to return within three weeks.

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But the 23-year-old now faces a long spell out of action in news that comes as a huge disappointment for club and country.

After winning his first game in charge of Crystal Palace against Burnley on Saturday, new manager Oliver Glasner was hoping to welcome Guehi in time for this weekend’s visit to Tottenham.

But the Austrian coach will now have to wait before he gets the chance to select his team’s key defender for the first time.

Similarly, Guehi now looks likely to miss next month’s international friendlies against Brazil and Belgium, in news that deals a blow to his chances of starting at Euro 2024.

Fitness permitting, Guehi is guaranteed a place in Gareth Southgate’s squad that travels to Germany in the summer and is pushing Harry Maguire for a regular starting spot in the heart of England’s defense alongside John Stones.

And although there is no indication that the setback suffered by Guehi could cause him to miss the rest of the season, his unavailability to the team for next month’s games, designated March 14, comes at the worst possible time as it seeks to force his path. in the starting eleven for the first match of Euro 2024 against Serbia on June 16.

Guehi’s prolonged absence is the latest defensive blow for Southgate ahead of Euro 2024 after it emerged last week that starting left-back Luke Shaw is in a race against time to play again this season due to a serious injury. in the hamstring.

Aston Villa centre-back Ezri Konsa, who was in the previous England team, is currently recovering from a knee injury.

Guehi’s long-term future at Selhurst Park is likely to become an issue for the Eagles heading into the summer as the defender enters the final two years of his contract.

A number of Premier League teams are showing interest in Guehi, including Liverpool and Manchester United, and Palace may have to listen to offers for one of their prized assets if they fail to tie him down to an extension before next season.