Palace captain Neil Shipperley will miss the start of the Premiership campaign, after being ruled out by a knee injury.
The Eagles striker was told that unless he rests a tendonitis problem he will require need surgery that would keep him out for much of the season.
"I had a stark choice. Rest now and be out for about five weeks or have the surgery and say goodbye to the season - and that would have been soul destroying," Shipperley told Sky Sports.
"It's better to get it out of the way now and get back to help the lads as quickly as I can."
Palace are still in the hunt for Hungarian striker Sandor Torghelle – with the deal believed to be completed but yet to be officially announced.