Crystal Palace handed major new injury boost on eve of FA Cup final

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Evening Standard

·16 May 2025

Crystal Palace handed major new injury boost on eve of FA Cup final

Key star fit for Wembley showdown with Manchester City as Eagles chase first-ever major trophy

Adam Wharton is available to play in this weekend’s FA Cup final in a major boost for Crystal Palace.

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The Eagles had been nervously awaiting news on the midfielder’s status after his absence last weekend.

Wharton missed Sunday’s 2-0 win over Tottenham in the Premier League with an ankle injury which forced him off in the second half of the 1-1 draw against Nottingham Forest on May 5.

But the one-time England international was pictured back in training in the second half of this week and is fit to feature against Manchester City in the FA Cup final at Wembley on Saturday.

Manager Oliver Glasner had said on May 9 that he was “90 per cent” confident Wharton would be fit for the final.

Speaking at his pre-match press conference on Friday afternoon, the Palace boss said: “Positive team news. Everybody is fit. Adam trained all week and is available, and all others as well.

“Our preparation was more or less the same as in a Premier League game. We focused on what we want to do tomorrow at Wembley and analysed Man City.”

With Wharton back fit, Palace’s only absentees as they chase a first-ever major trophy at Wembley will be defender Chadi Riad and central midfielder Cheick Doucoure, both of whom are nursing long-term knee injuries.