PALACE boss Neil Warnock has revealed that Scott Dann could start running as early as Monday next week, nine days after injuring the medial ligaments in his right knee.
The centre-back went for a scan at the start of this week and it became apparent that he suffered a grade one tear at Hull City last Saturday and will be out of action for at least three weeks.
That means Dann will definitely miss the Premier League games against Chelsea and West Bromwich Albion that are coming up.
However, depending on how the 27-year-old's recovery process goes with first team physio Alex Manos and his response in training, it could be up to a maximum of six weeks.
A return for the match against Sunderland at Selhurst Park on Monday, November 3 could be the earliest date in mind, and Warnock admitted that he feared he was going to lose the former Blackburn Rovers man for "a few months".
"It's good news in a way, and I've been told he could even do straight-forward running on Monday," the boss said.
"It's a grade one injury, which is the best outcome to have.
"It could be three weeks until he's back but then again it could be six.
"When you start training you don't really know, but it's a lot better than I thought. I feared he'd be out for a few months, if I'm honest.
"If he had put a bit more weight on the knee as he's blocked the ball, that might have caused a bit more of a problem."
Warnock is set to travel north of the border to watch two of his Eagles in action on international duty this weekend, while he revealed that Palace have done their best to accommodate Yannick Bolasie on his return, just 48 hours before facing Chelsea.
The winger suffered a "nightmare" trip home last month before playing against Burnley, but this time Palace have secured him a better standard of travel back to the United Kingdom.
"What we've done this time is different," said Warnock. "We have booked the flight for Yannick coming back in business class so he can get stretched out and relax. It's a decent flight back through the night as well.
"He'll get his rest that way and that's the best thing we could do in the circumstances really.
"He had an unbelievable journey home last time. The airport was closed, he had to get a coach, it was a nightmare for him.
"All the players who are away are responsible and they will come back as soon as possible though. It's only Yannick who I feel sorry for.
"The lads here have continued to train and we've managed to have a long weekend, and it's nice at this stage to have a break with your family too.
"I'm going up to Scotland this weekend to watch Barry Bannan and James McArthur in action."
