OLIVER Glasner expects Jean-Philippe Mateta to be back for Crystal Palace’s FA Cup quarter-final against Fulham at the end of this month – and revealed the striker is being looked after by his mum.
Mateta received 25 stitches in a cut after being kicked in the head by goalkeeper Liam Roberts in the Eagles’ 3-1 win over Millwall in the fifth round last weekend.
Mateta will miss Palace’s Premier League clash at home to Ipswich Town on Saturday before the squad go to Marbella for a week of warm-weather training.
Their next game is the last-eight clash with the Cottagers at Craven Cottage.
“Mateta is doing well,” said Glasner. “He is at home and recovering well.
“He had no fractures or concussion and healing from the huge wound is going as we expected.
“He will go to Marbella with us next week and he will be just training individually. If everything goes how we wish, he will be available against Fulham.
“We lose JP for this game, we can’t play him tomorrow, but it’s not too bad.”
Glasner added: “To be honest, it wasn’t a big topic here in our training ground. Everybody had two days off and everybody is in touch with JP, messaging him.
“I think everyone could see how he was on the evening of that Millwall game. He had already announced that he was all good and everything was fine with him.
“That’s how he is – he is such a lovely person – so everyone knows he is doing well and he will be back soon.
“I think his mother has come over from France and she is taking care of him, so he is in the best hands. When your mother looks after you, it is the best thing you can have. He has great support at home so we don’t have to take care of him.
“When he goes with us to Marbella, he will also be in good hands and hopefully he will start training with us.”
Roberts’ ban has been increased from three to six games.
When asked if he supported the FA’s appeal for it to be increased, Glasner replied: “I neither support or don’t support. It’s their decision.
“For me, I know he has apologised to JP because he texted him. He knows he made a mistake, but he decided it in 0.1 second.”
