Crystal Palace's Matheus Franca to miss start of season through injury

The young Brazilian completed his move from Flamengo to Selhurst Park at the weekend, but will miss the first game of the season with injury.

Franca arrived in the capital for a fee of £17m - rising to £26m - but he has not featured much over the summer in his native Brazil.

The 19-year-old has played just six minutes of action since early June, coming off the bench late on in a draw with Palmeiras.

Franca was in the squad for his final four games as a Flamengo player, but he was an unused substitute by manager Jorge Sampaoli.

Palace boss Roy Hodgson has now confirmed that they will be without their new signing for their trip to Sheffield United at the weekend.

Hodgson said: "The young lad from Brazil, who we have very high hopes for, is not going to be available because he's got an injury that he's looking after."

Franca will join fellow wide man Michael Olise on the sidelines, leaving the Eagles quite thin for attacking options heading into the match.

Wilfired Zaha's departure to Galatasaray was already a blow, and losing the player they hope can fill the Ivorian's boots on the eve of the season is another.

With Olise currently the subject of intense transfer speculation, more incomings are required at Selhurst Park, and Hodgson has made his feelings clear.

The Palace manager further added: "We are short in terms of the squad size and are aware of what needs to be done, I'm optimistic that by the end of the transfer window this squad will be stronger."

Jefferson Lerma is the only other addition Palace have made to their squad this summer, but plenty of other names have been rumoured, especially in defence.

Lewis Hall and Odilon Kossounou are two players who could arrive at Palace in the coming weeks, with loan deals for the pair currently being worked on.