Crystal Palace players left in tears after Eberechi Eze picks up horror injury

Crystal Palace players were left in tears after Eberechi Eze picks up a horror injury before getting an England call-up text for the Euros.

Andros Townsend revealed the Eagles players were left very emotional after seeing their teammate rupture his Achilles in training, moments before discovering he would’ve been in England’s provisional Euros squad.

Eze has been shining for Palace this season following his £16million transfer from Queens Park Rangers last summer.

The 22-year-old got four goals and six assists in his debut Premier League campaign.

But disaster hit the team in training when the youngster picked up a nasty Achilles injury, that could keep him out until 2022, according to reports.

Townsend, who is out of contract with Palace at the end of the campaign, described what happened on that sad day.

“It was probably one of the saddest days of my career,” he told talkSPORT Drive. “At 11am the manager (Roy Hodgson) called us together and told us ‘it is his last season and I’ve decided to step aside’.

“So we were all down in the dumps going into training, then half an hour later, we are ten minutes before the end of the session, it was a light session, Eze has gone to turn and you heard a big pop.

“He fell to the floor. He thought somebody kicked him, we all thought somebody kicked him because it sounded like that, as he’s turned around and realised nobody was around him, the shock started to set in as you know what it is.

“The shock in his face when he ruptured his Achilles, it haunts me when I go to sleep at night thinking about this young player who’s probably my closest mate at the club since he’s joined, we’ve really helped each other, for him to have such a serious injury is really sad.”

Adding to Eze’s misery, once he got back into the changing room, he got a text saying he’d been included in England’s provisional squad for the Euros.

Townsend added: “As soon as he got in the dressing room and turned on his phone there was a message from England to say he was in the provisional squad.

“That compounded his misery and a lot of us were in tears. It was a sad day.

“He’s had his surgery now and hopefully he’s on the mend and I know the player he is and character he is, he’s going to come back strong.”

Eze really impressed with Palace this season and despite the setback Townsend believes the winger can go much further.

He added: “He can go to the very top. It’s not easy coming up from the Championship to the Premier League.

“He had his ups and downs, but what impressed me most was his willingness to improve.

“When I was a youngster, you couldn’t tell me anything. He listened to the senior players, listened to the manager and didn’t shirk his defensive duties.

“Everyone knows what he can do going forward, but for me what he’s done defensively, and after training, he will go to the very top.”

A week ago, Eze expressed his delight with the affection shown towards him since revealing his injury.

Eze took to social media to appreciate everyone for their show of love towards him.

“The love I have received the past couple of days from my teammates, staff, fans and friends has been so powerful and I can’t tell you all how much it means to me. It’s not ideal but I trust God’s plan for my life. His will, not mine,” he tweeted.

The love I have received the past couple of days from my teammates, staff, fans and friends has been so powerful and I can’t tell you all how much it means to me. It’s not ideal but I trust Gods plan for my life. His will, not mine. ❤️ pic.twitter.com/5xB53jAsQB

— Ebere (@EbereEze10) May 19, 2021

In a recent interview, Crystal Palace boss Roy Hodgson lauded the Anglo-Nigerian’s influence on his team in the 2020-21 campaign.

“He’s had a good season, there’s no question of that. I think it’s nice that, not just on this occasion [against Sheffield United], but even on other occasions, he really has shown his skills to the utmost and everyone’s picked up on it. I’m really pleased about that,” Hodgson told the club website.

“I’m most pleased with the way he’s settled in, the way he’s become such a team player, the way he works very hard to absorb any tactical information and do the things that the team requires of him, apart from, of course, the mazy dribbles, the excellent ball control he’s been blessed with also.”

He also praised his potential but warned he has more to learn in order to get to the top of his career.

“He knows he has these excellent technical abilities, he knows he is a good player capable of becoming a really good player of the very highest level, but there’s still a bit of learning to be done, a bit of experience to be gained,” he continued.

“His progress for me has been solid, it’s been there all the time. I’ve seen him getting better, we know what he can do.”

Fans reacted after reading that Crystal Palace players were left in tears after Eberechi Eze picks up that horror injury…

@nathanstokes08: Damn exactly how I did mine, I’m 7 months in and still get pain now! Wish him all the best but it will be tough for him to get back to being as good as what he was as to trust his Achilles again is a massive mental challenge

@PalaceChris1: Get well soon eze @EbereEze10 there’ll be plenty more tournaments. Nuff love PTID 🦅 #CPFC

@TCPalacePod: We’re so not over it 😩💔😔 #CPFC

@BigDo82: Would of liked to see him get a chance I think he has the lot to be a top talent.🔥👌

@george8745: Real shame would’ve been great.

@AFC19901: @EbereEze10 I feel so bad for ya mate!!! You’ll come again 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿👊

@DominicCorlett: Actually gutted! Maybe wouldn’t have been in the final squad but just proves the talent he has and he’s playing out of position for Palace all season

@HLTCO (to Eze): I’m being 100% serious here, our fans legitimately adore you. As and when you’re back, you’ll get a hero’s welcome both home and away.

@RednBlueRich: You’ve made us all proud with your performances this season, and as the down to earth lad you are. You’ll get through this and come back stronger. 🔴🦅🔵 Everyone is behind you!

@VillaVisionBen: Wishing you a speedy recovery mate been great to watch this season. What a talented young lad you are. Keep it up. See you going places

@connors_marc: Wishing you a speedy recovery and hope it all goes well 🙏👊

@KennyLFC: Wishing you a speedy recovery, Ebere. Not a CPFC fan but I love watching talented players and you’ve got a massive future in the PL!

@kel2404: Come back stronger and better Ebs you time will still come speedy recovery 💙🙏🤍

@SomePalaceGuy: We love you Ebs ❤️💙

@JackkBarton: Behind you all the way Ebs.

@RomfordRoger: You’ll come back fitter, stronger and more determined. All the best in the recovery, looking forward to seeing you back on the pitch.

@liamb0117: Everyone is behind you Ebs. Every step of the way we’re with you

@Lauredblue4: We will miss you, thank you for all your hard work and endless talent this season. Cannot wait to see you play in front of our fans when you are back #cpfc

@BenM_CPFC: Absolutely gutted for you Ebs but keep going and you’ll come back stronger. We’re all behind you

@Tommy20316: Get well soon Ebs, you have been a breath of fresh air this season with both your style of play and your attitude, hopefully you will be with us for many many years and this is just a small bump in the road, we are all behind you

@BenRHardy: Wishing you a speedy recovery. You will come back bigger and stronger. Cannot wait to see you back in the red and blue.

@antgodwyn: You’re such a top bloke Ebs that you totally deserve the support. We’re all with you on this recovery path, we wish you a speedy recovery

@Phillyconcarne: We love you king. You have no idea how devastated the fans have been for you. Stay strong, come back when you’re ready and get back doing your thing. We’ll be behind you every step of the way

@markymarkI962: Wishing you a swift recovery Ebere, really enjoyed watching you this season. Looking forward to seeing you playing again at Selhurst sooner rather than later.

Not just about on pitch impact. They are all good friends with Eze.

— Fonsexual 🦅 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 (@Callum_CPFC_) May 27, 2021