Jean-Philippe Mateta injury: Oliver Glasner confirms Crystal Palace boost

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Evening Standard

·7 March 2025

Jean-Philippe Mateta injury: Oliver Glasner confirms Crystal Palace boost

Striker required 25 stiches after horror tackle from Millwall goalkeeper Liam Roberts

Crystal Palace boss Oliver Glasner is optimistic Jean-Philippe Mateta will recover from his significant ear injury in time to face Fulham in their FA Cup quarter-final at the end of the month.

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The French striker required 25 stitches to repair his lacerated left ear after he was kicked in the head by Millwall goalkeeper Liam Roberts in the follow-through of a challenge early on in their 3-1 fourth-round cup victory last Saturday.

Millwall have said Roberts, who was sent off in the eighth minute, has personally reached out to Mateta to apologise. Roberts has now been banded for six games.

Glasner, whose side next host Ipswich in the Premier League, told a press conference: "Mateta is doing well. He is at home and his recovery is going well. He had no fractures or concussion. Healing from the huge wound is going as we expected.

"He will go to Marbella with us next week and be just training individually. If everything goes how we wish, he will be available versus Fulham.

"We lost JP in this game, we can't play him tomorrow, but it's not too bad."

Glasner will also be missing midfielder Will Hughes, suspended for two matches after accumulating 10 yellow cards, the first player to do so in the Premier League this season alongside Fulham's Sasa Lukic.

The Eagles then travel to Marbella for a warm-weather training camp and a friendly against Norwegian side HamKam on March 13 before trying to book their place at Wembley when they face the Cottagers just over two weeks later.

Glasner insisted his players have largely put last weekend's unsettling incident behind them.

He added: "To be honest, it wasn't a big topic here in the training ground.

"The players had two days off (after the Millwall game) and, of course, everybody was in touch with JP and messaging him and I think everybody could see how he is.

"The evening after the Millwall game, it was announced all's fine with him and everybody knows he is doing well, and he will be back soon. We started on Tuesday focusing on Ipswich.

"JP's mother came over from France and she took care of him, so he's in the best hands!

"He has great support at home. He will go with us to Marbella and will be in good hands again and he will start training with us."