Crystal Palace star Jean-Philippe Mateta was rushed to hospital and needed 25 stitches after Millwall goalkeeper Liam Roberts hit him with a kung-fu kick during their FA Cup tie on Saturday
Jean-Philippe Mateta is targeting a return for Crystal Palace’s FA Cup quarter-final after his horror injury against Millwall.
The French striker needed 25 stitches on a “severe laceration” to his left ear after a kung-fu kick by keeper Liam Roberts. Palace issued a statement late on Saturday night saying: “All scans were clear and JP is feeling well.”
Mateta is set to miss Saturday’s home match with Ipswich and Palace’s next game will be after the international break in the FA Cup. But the injury could hit his hopes of getting a first call-up to Didier Deschamps’ full France squad at the age of 27. The Palace striker played a big part in the French Olympic team which won the silver medal in Paris last August.
Palace triggered an option to extend his contract until 2027 before his Christmas but his goalscoring exploits – Mateta has already netted 20 times this season – have attracted the interest of Manchester United and Nottingham Forest.
A picture of Roberts’ high-footed challenge featured on the front page of French sports daily L’Equipe on Sunday with the comparison with Harald Schumacher’s infamous assault on Patrick Battiston at the 1982 World Cup. Furious Palace chairman Steve Parish went live on the BBC to claim the tackle was life-threatening after Millwall fans had chanted: “Let him die” during Mateta’s on-field treatment.
Team-mate Eddie Nketiah said: “It was a horrible challenge, obviously, rightly so, a sending off.”
Palace fans responded with the same sick chant before Camiel Neghli went off with an ankle injury. The FA are aware of homophobic chanting by Millwall fans directed at Ben Chilwell and are investigating. Nketiah added: “Obviously, both fans going at each other. So it was really nice to obviously get the win and get on the score sheet.”
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Asked about his low-key goal celebration, Nketiah said: “I celebrated. I liked to keep things not too crazy. I try to look good when I celebrate. I respect Millwall. Obviously, I’m a Deptford boy, but I never supported Millwall. I play for palace we don’t like them, innit.
“Obviously, you’re in the quarter-final now. Yes, it’s big. We want to keep pushing. We want to go all the way. That’s the aim. We’re a step closer to Wembley, which is a big aim of ours. It’ll be nice to be able to take these wonderful Palace fans to Wembley and go all the way. It’ll be fantastic.”
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