Crystal Palace boss Neil Warnock will nurse Matt Lawrence through their remaining games after revealing the defender requires hernia surgery.

Lawrence, one of Palace's most impressive performers this season after moving to centre-half, has been playing through the pain recently and was rested for Saturday's 2-0 Championship home win over Scunthorpe.

But Warnock is confident he has not seen the last of the former Millwall man this term.

"Matt has got a bit of an injury and will need a hernia operation in the summer so we have to see him through our remaining games," said Warnock. "He will be available for our trip to Watford."

Team Talk / Eurosport