Glasner confirms Palace star’s return from knee injury | OneFootball

Crystal Palace manager Oliver Glasner has confirmed that Jean-Philippe Mateta has returned to training and will be in the squad for their Conference League Round of 16 first leg against AEK Larnaca.

Mateta returned from a knee injury that has seen him miss Palace’s last six matches, with Thursday’s game being the first time the Frenchman will feature in a match day squad since his prospective winter transfer window Deadline Day move to AC Milan collapsed.

However, Glasner confirmed that the 28-year-old is only fit enough to start from the bench, as the forward continues his return to full fitness.

“Jean-Philippe Mateta is back and will be in the squad for tomorrow night, Glasner said. “No [to starting]. He didn’t train for five or six weeks on the pitch, and he’s now back for three days, so no chance.

“But, it’s good to have him back. He showed in training he’s always able to create chances, score goals, and that’s why it’s good to have him back.”

The Austrian also praised the club for their work on improving the frontline during the January transfer window, which saw the arrivals of Brennan Johnson from Tottenham, Jorgen Strand Larsen from Wolves and Evann Guessand from Aston Villa.

“That was the target of the winter transfer window: to strengthen our attack, because we were often short of numbers, and I think the club did a great job regarding the strengthening our attack.

“The new players are really getting integrated very well. It’s not one-way, it’s two-ways, but it’s quite easy because the players who are here are great lads, and so are the new ones as well, so it’s maybe easier. We need all these options, and it’s good to have them.”