It looked certain that Jean-Philippe Mateta’s last game for Crystal Palace came in a 3-1 loss away to Chelsea. The French striker lasted 85 minutes of that defeat at Stamford Bridge on January 25th.
A week later, Mateta flew over to Paris to undergo a medical ahead of a proposed move to AC Milan. The Serie A giants were keen to sign the 28-year-old, but complications arose during his medical.
Milan pulled the plug on a £30m deadline day deal after the Frenchman failed a medical. He returned to Palace after pushing to leave the club before the January transfer window closed.
When is Mateta back?
Mateta’s future remains uncertain, but he is likely to pull on a Palace shirt again before the season ends. Glasner said that he “hoped” that would be the case while the striker continues his rehabilitation.
“That’s the plan” was the line Glasner gave ahead of his side’s Europa Conference League second-leg play-off against Zrinjski Mostar. If the South Londoners win that game and progress to the last 16, Mateta could be back in action for that tie.
According to Sam Tabutea of Standard Sport, Mateta is “targeting a return to fitness before the March international break.” That means he should ideally be available for a potential last-16 tie against German side Mainz or Cypriot outfit AEK Larnaca.
Mateta was pictured watching his teammates train ahead of the play-off second leg at Selhurst Park tomorrow. Some fans will feel he has making up to do after making clear he wanted to leave the club in January.
The first leg of a possible Conference League last-16 will take place on March 12, and the second on March 19th. The international break occurs at the very end of the month, and Palace’s next game after this is a trip to St James’ Park to face Newcastle United on April 11th.
Mateta return a massive boost
Palace went ahead with the club-record signing of Jorgen Strand Larsen from Wolverhampton Wanderers on the same day Mateta failed his medical. The Norweigan arrived at Selhurst Park in a £48m deal and has led the line for Glasner ever since.
The Austrian hasn’t been able to rotate as Eddie Nketiah has been sidelined with a thigh problem since December. The former Arsenal frontman is now one of three strikers who could be battling it out for a starting berth once all are available.
That’s a happy headache for Glasner, who has become frustrated with the club’s ambition, or lack of it, shown in the transfer market. His side enters the final stretch of the season, and if they are still playing Conference League football, he has plenty of options up top.
