Jack Butland is yet to meet his Crystal Palace team-mates following his £1million move from Stoke City during the transfer window. That is because the goalkeeper is in isolation, having tested positive for Covid-19. Butland was handed the number one shirt at Selhurst Park upon arriving from the Potters on transfer deadline day, with Wayne Hennessey left out of the Eagles’ 25-man Premier League squad completely. Speaking during his pre-match press conference ahead of the game against Fulham this weekend, manager Roy Hodgson confirmed he had not seen his new signing yet.
Roy Hodgson said “Very unfortunate for Wayne Hennessey to pick up such a serious injury – we know he’ll be out until at least January. We needed to bring somebody in, but then he came in and tested positive for COVID, so we haven’t seen him yet. He’s stuck in a hotel room in London to self-isolate before taking another test. My only contact with him has been by telephone but he’s feeling very good. He’s just disappointed to only be seeing four walls of his hotel.”