- Crystal Palace without Eddie Nketiah
- English striker is ruled out for remainder of season
- Admits that he is “gutted”
Crystal Palace striker Eddie Nketiah is “gutted” to miss out on his side’s run-in after enduring an injury that has ended his season. The Englishman has endured an injury-ridden campaign and won’t play under Oliver Glasner again.
Nketiah has been sidelined since late December and initially was out of action due to a thigh problem. But on the eve of Palace’s UEFA Conference League quarter-final he was preparing to return.
That was until he suffered an injury setback, but this time with his hamstring, and Glasner confirmed he’d be unavailable to face Fiorentina. He later revealed that the 26-year-old won’t appear for the Eagles again this season.
‘Highs and Lows’ – Nketiah on Season-Ending Injury
Nketiah has now opened up on his frustrations amid missing the knockout stages of Palace’s Conference League campaign. He posted on Instagram:
“Football, man. The highs and lows. Gutted to miss the run in. But there’s a trophy to win and I’ll be supporting the boys every step of the way with you all. Thank you for all the love and messages. Means everything.”
Nketiah had made 19 appearances across competitions this season, posting four goals and one assist. His absence was a real nuisance during the winter period when uncertainty grew over Jean-Philippe Mateta’s future.
Mateta pushed to leave the club, but there was no viable replacement to drop into the number nine role. The Eagles have since swooped for Jorgen Strand Larsen, who became their club record signing for £48m in January.
If Nketiah were to have returned, he’d have initially been battling it out with Strand Larsen for the starting berth up top. But Mateta failed a medical ahead of a proposed £30m switch to AC Milan and remains a Palace player, meaning there are now three strikers in the first-team squad.
Palace Players Support Nketiah
Many of Nketiah’s teammates were quick to try and lift the Englishman’s spirits in the replies section of his Instagram post. Strand Larsen, Adam Wharton, and Joel Drakes-Thomas all responded with love heart emojis.
Tyrick Mitchell told his English compatriot, “Got this, my boy”, while Chadi Riad replied, “Vamos.” While the former Arsenal frontman hasn’t been able to prove his worth on the pitch, he’s been a popular figure in the dressing room.
Nketiah arrived at Selhurst Park from the Emirates back in the summer of 2024 for £30m. He was part of the side that lifted the FA Cup last season and the Community Shield ahead of the ongoing campaign.
