Crystal Palace’s Pape Souare completes year from hell with the death of his father… three months after breaking his leg in car crash

CRYSTAL PALACE star Pape Souare has completed the year from hell - with the death of his father.

The left-back was ruled out for six months in September after breaking his thigh bone in a motorway car smash.

He also suffered facial injuries, has been forced to miss Senegal's African Nations Cup campaign next month and fears he may never play football again.

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Souare, 26, has now revealed his dad Alassane passed away in midweek.

He wrote on Instagram: "This is a day of great sadness for me. I have just lost my father on the final Wednesday of the year - may his beautiful soul rest in peace.

"He was a role model, a strong man and much more besides, but words are hard to find at this point.

"In sorrow and emotion, I wanted to share my loss with you. You give me strength."

Former Eagles boss Alan Pardew said in September that Souare's road accident may have happened in part because the defender was concerned at his father's serious illness.

Pardew revealed: "I do not want to say too much [about the accident] because I am not clear of the details. It was such a quick incident.

"I think a car pulled in front of him and he had very little time to react. Therefore the accident occurred. He has having some bad new with his father, who is seriously sick.

"Maybe that was on his mind. He is not having the best of times. We are all very supportive of him. We love Pape. We cannot wait to see him back.”