Crystal Palace Forward Jean-Philippe Mateta Scheduled to Rejoin Squad for Europa Conference League Match

Injury Recovery

Crystal Palace’s forward, Jean-Philippe Mateta, is poised to make his comeback in the upcoming Europa Conference League showdown against AEK Larnaca after successfully recuperating from a knee injury.

Mateta has been absent from first-team action since the Premier League match against Chelsea on January 25, managing an injury that had sidelined him for several months.

Injury History

The knee issue originated in November and hindered his availability during the winter months. After discussions with knee specialists, the club decided against surgical intervention.

Instead, the medical team opted for a strategy involving rest and rehabilitation, allowing Mateta to gradually ease back into full training with his teammates.

Manager’s Update

Palace’s head coach, Oliver Glasner, provided an update on Mateta’s recovery ahead of the Europa Conference League clash.

“JP is back,” Glasner stated during his pre-match press briefing. “He joined our training session on Monday and will be included in the squad.”

The Austrian manager noted that the recovery process has been progressing positively.

Match Readiness

While Mateta will be available for selection, he is unlikely to start the match. Glasner explained that the forward is still in the process of regaining his match fitness following an extended period away from the training field.

“He hasn’t been able to train for five or six weeks,” Glasner commented. “He has only trained for three days, so it’s unrealistic to expect him to play the full match.”

The manager expressed his satisfaction with Mateta’s return.

“He has demonstrated in training that he can create goal-scoring opportunities,” Glasner added. “It’s certainly a positive to have him back.”

Goals and Contribution

This season, Mateta has netted eight goals in the league for Palace, making him the club’s second-highest scorer in European competitions. However, he has found the net just once in his last 12 appearances across all tournaments.

His return adds valuable depth to Palace’s attacking options at a crucial juncture of the season.

Team Updates

The club bolstered their attacking lineup during the winter transfer window to mitigate prior shortages.

Unfortunately, Palace will still be without defender Daniel Munoz for the upcoming match, as he is on the mend from a shoulder injury sustained in the recent victory against Tottenham Hotspur. However, Munoz might be fit to return for Palace’s Premier League match against Leeds United this weekend.

As Mateta rejoins the squad, Palace will be hopeful that his presence can provide a vital boost in their pursuit of advancement in European competition.