Damien Delaney insists Crystal Palace have just not been good enough this season but feels they will be boosted with players returning from injury.

The Eagles sit rock bottom of the Premier League after suffering seven successive defeats, while they are yet to score a single goal.

Palace, who are priced at 1.50 to be relegated, have already sacked Frank de Boer, who only took charge over the summer, and drafted in Roy Hodgson, however, he has overseen two of their seven losses.

Hodgson was brought in during a very tough period of fixtures and has been in dugout for losses away at Manchester City and Manchester United.

Defending champions Chelsea will travel to Selhurst Park after the international break and it looks likely to be a tough return to Premier League action.

Palace have been without impressive winger Wilfried Zaha since the opening day due to injury, while hitman Christian Benteke was also ruled out of the trip to Old Trafford and he is expected to be sidelined for six weeks.

Delaney, who made his first Premier League start of the season at United, admits they haven’t been good enough but feels they will be much improved when key players come back into the fold.

“Nine goals conceded in two weeks is not good enough but we need to be conscious that we still have 30 games left and it will hopefully not be too long before we players returning from injury,” Delaney said.

“Once we get some of the lads back we can start doing what we know we are capable of because our first seven games have just not been good enough.”