CRYSTAL Palace midfielder Owen Garvan was forced to sit out of the U21s' match at Beckenham Town due to tendonitis in his knee, says Academy boss Gary Issott.
The central midfielder was not involved with the first team's pre-season trip to Austria earlier this week and was set to step up his fitness at home.
However, in the warm-up on Friday night he pulled up with the injury and took no part in the 4-1 win.
"He had it last year, he just gets tendonitis in his knee, which is inflammation of the patella," Issott told the Advertiser.
"Owen, he's a genuine lad, and he was at the game and gave it a go but I think it was the hard ground on him.
"He'll be gutted he hasn't been able to get at least 45 minutes under his belt to give him a chance to be as fit as he can possibly be."
Just a little over 12 months ago, Garvan was playing in the Championship play-off final and a regular in Palace's starting XI.
He was left out of Ian Holloway's 25-man squad last September and continued to stay out of favour when Tony Pulis took over.
After getting himself fit, a loan move to Millwall occurred at the end of last season.
"It's just what happens in football," said Issott of how things change quickly in the game.
"I remember when Neil Shipperley scored the winner in the play-off final in 2004 and then not playing games in the Premier League.
"It just happens. Garvs has been a good player for the club and he still has a year remaining.
"The manager will make a decision on him (about a possible loan move).
"The situation was is he didn't travel to Austria and he was due to get 45 minutes at Beckenham.
"It's just inflammation in knee and when it will settle down.
"It's the softer ground - we have had a hot summer and the ground is hard at the moment."
