Crystal Palace boss Roy Hodgson says Nathan Ferguson won't play this season.
The fullback has struggled with a series of injuries.
Hodgson said: It's an injury that's going to keep him out for a period of time. It's a serious muscle tear.
"I was here when the club brought him in and we were very excited. What's happened to him over the years has been a real tragedy. It's been particularly tough to take this time, seeing the disappointment that he's now got to overcome once again.
"For two weeks he was training with us out there and he was looking good, so I had no warning that he was going to pick up another fairly serious injury nothing like the one that kept him out for years, but a fairly serious injury.
"He's going to have to be very tough. The club will help him as much as we possibly can. I know the players around him will, because he's a popular figure at the club, but for him that's a real mental challenge to overcome because I think this time he felt, and we certainly did watching him out there, that he could seriously start knocking on the door.
"To suddenly find yourself out now until next season, that's a tough ask."