Crystal Palace star Eberechi Eze is OUT of key games against West Ham and Bournemouth after sustaining ankle ligament damage in defeat at Luton

Crystal Palace fear Eberechi Eze will miss the crucial games against West Ham and Bournemouth with an ankle ligament injury.

Eze limped off during Saturday's loss to Luton and continues to be assessed by Palace medics.

But initial concerns are that Eze is in danger of missing around three to four weeks, though the timescale is being assessed on a day-to-day basis.

Nevertheless, Eze is set to miss key matches against West Ham on Sunday and Bournemouth next Wednesday as he recovers from the injury.

The news arrives as Palace face being without key midfielder Cheick Doucoure for the rest of the season after he suffered a serious Achilles injury, that will keep him out for up to six months, in the loss at Kenilworth Road.

News of Doucoure's long-term absence arrives as a huge disappointment to head coach Roy Hodgson, whose team are approaching an important run of fixtures.

Palace are 13th, 10 points clear of the relegation zone, but have won just one of their previous six matches.

The games versus the Hammers and Bournemouth are viewed as key towards Palace climbing the table, particularly given the opposition for five of their following six fixtures following the visit of the Cherries include Manchester City, Arsenal, Liverpool, Chelsea and Brighton.

While there is not thought to be immediate pressure on Hodgson's position, he will find himself under scrutiny if their current poor form does not improve in the coming weeks.

Doucoure - who will also miss Mali's Africa Cup of Nations campaign - has built a promising reputation as one of the Premier League's best emerging central midfielders since his arrival from Lens last season.

He was the subject of an enquiry from Liverpool in the summer, but his £70million asking price was a stumbling block towards a potential move to Anfield.

Further top-level interest was expected to follow at the end of this season, however his injury is likely to mean he remains at Selhurst Park for at least another campaign as he starts on the long road to recovery.