Crystal Palace boss Oliver Glasner says Rob Holding can feature for up to 20 minutes against West Ham if the defender is needed.
The 28-year-old joined the Eagles in the summer from Arsenal but is yet to feature in the Premier League for Palace.
Holding played in the 3-0 EFL Cup defeat at Manchester United under Roy Hodgson but has been missing from the matchday squad since the 2-1 defeat at Luton in November after having ankle surgery.
The ex-Bolton youngster could be needed against West Ham, with Jefferson Lerma and Marc Guehi injured. Chris Richards and Joel Ward are both doubts for the clash at Selhurst Park.
Nathaniel Clyne played at centre-back in the 1-0 win at Liverpool.
“He was smiling every day,” said Glasner of Holding returning.
“I said to him today: ‘Every day you come in smiling.’
“The best part is when you play football. We have the best job in the world. When we were boys, we wanted to do this.
“He was out for four months and always working in the gym and on his rehab. It’s tough work because they’re all football players who want to train with the ball and the team.
“We have a big responsibility for the health of our players. It’s not ok or fair to say: ‘You play 90 minutes because others are injured.’
“You then risk suffering a reinjury again. It’s good to have him back with his experience and physicality.
“He can maybe have 15 to 20 minutes if we need him at the end of the game.
“It’s good that he’s back, but we won’t say: ‘Rob, you have to play 95 minutes.’
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