Crystal Palace have been handed a major boost on the eve of their FA Cup quarter-final against Fulham, with Jean-Philippe Mateta passed fit to play — so long as he wears a protective mask.
The striker is set to make his return to the Palace team when they take on Fulham at Craven Cottage on Saturday.
It will be his first appearance since he was rushed to hospital and required 25 stitches after receiving a dangerous kung-fu kick to the ear from Millwall goalkeeper Liam Roberts in the FA Cup fifth-round 3-1 win on March 1.
He was discharged from St George’s Hospital in Tooting the same night but could not immediately return to training. Palace medical staff had always pinpointed the match against Fulham as the potential date for Mateta’s return to action.
Mateta has been training all week at Palace’s Copers Cope Road training ground and spent time doing individual work away from his team-mates during the Eagles’ week-long training camp in Marbella a fortnight ago.
Speaking at his pre-match press conference on Friday afternoon, Eagles boss Oliver Glasner said: “He trains now for two weeks with us. Of course, always with his protection and it's also important for him to train a little bit.
“We had an internal game during the international break where he could play for 60 minutes without any problems. He's ready."
He added: “There was nothing fractured and no concussion. It was just the ear — a terrible injury — but some players have said the ear looks better than before!
Some players have said the ear looks better than before!
“The doctor did a great job finding the right protection. They tried two or three masks. It’s approved by the Premier League and FA.
“He tried it in training. If I believed it was a problem, I wouldn’t play him."
Asked if he has any fears Mateta will not return as the same player, Glasner said: "No. I watched JP in training [this week] and he looks the same as before. Yes, he needs to get back into the rhythm. “
Palace will reach the FA Cup semi-finals for the first time since 2022 if they make it past Fulham.
