Crystal Palace striker Jean-Philippe Mateta is expected to be given the green light to play in Saturday’s FA Cup quarter-final with London rivals Fulham at Craven Cottage.
The Frenchman suffered a nasty ear injury in the last-16 win over Millwall, where goalkeeper Liam Roberts cleaned him out with a horrific high boot to the head, a challenge that Palace chairman Steve Parish labelled the “most reckless” he has seen in his life.
Mateta was quickly discharged from hospital, though, and Palace’s chief marksman is on track to be fit for the trip to Craven Cottage, where he will have to wear a special protective mask if he plays.
With Mateta absent against Ipswich Town two weekends ago, Eddie Nketiah struggled to cut the mustard up front, and the ex-Arsenal man will surely drop out for his French counterpart if Oliver Glasner deems him ready to return.
However, Ismaila Sarr and Eberechi Eze‘s places should not be in danger following crucial contributions; the former struck the only goal in that 1-0 win over Ipswich, before Eze netted in England’s 3-0 triumph over Latvia in World Cup Qualifying.
Daniel Munoz, Jefferson Lerma and Tyrick Mitchell are shoo-ins for the bank of four in the middle, where Glasner’s only real debate is whether to side with Will Hughes or Adam Wharton from the first whistle.
The latter is slowly building his fitness back up and therefore has our vote to get the nod, while Marc Guehi, Maxence Lacroix and Chris Richards form a recognisable barrier in front of cup goalkeeper Matt Turner.
Crystal Palace possible starting lineup:
Turner; Richards, Guehi, Lacroix; Munoz, Hughes, Lerma, Mitchell; Eze, Sarr; Mateta
> Click here to see how Fulham could line up for the quarter-final
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