Crystal Palace striker Jean-Philippe Mateta has targeted the FA Cup quarter-final with Fulham on 29 March for his return after sustaining a fatal ear injury from Millwall goalkeeper Liam Roberts that saw him stretchered off at Selhurst Park in last month’s FA Cup fifth-round tie that Palace won 3-1.
Mateta was later rushed in an ambulance to the hospital with blood oozing out of his ear – he received 25 stitches. The FA in their verdict after a thorough look at the footage has handed Roberts a lengthy six-match ban for his reckless tackle.
As the incident happened, Palace’s Premier League top goalscorer (12) had no idea the severity of the injury, showing the doctors his willingness to get on with the game while rather expecting a red card for the Millwall goalkeeper.
“When he kicked me, I was on the floor waiting for him to get the red card. I was good to go. I thought, ‘just get the blood off and keep going’.
“I was arguing with the doctor for 30 seconds, saying I wanted to play. The doctor saw the injury, but I couldn’t see it.
“I couldn’t feel pain. The blood, for sure. But I thought it was a little cut. My ear was like this [dangling]. But it was not painful,” Mateta said, in a TV Exclusive with Sky Sports News.
Mateta is ready to put all that happened in the South London derby behind him, and look forward to the quarter-final of the FA Cup; he’s expected to wear a protective face mask on his return to action to prevent further bruises while protecting the stitches from healing completely.
The injury ruled the in-form Palace frontman out of their 1-0 home win to relegation-bound Ipswich on March 8 before the international break.
The Frenchman in his response to provide a return date hesitated in his response but later indicated to Sky Sports his return to the squad after his individual training.
“We were in Marbella last week and I trained [not with the squad].”
When pushed for an answer on his return date, he continued:
“I don’t know. I’m still in touch with the specialists and the doctor. Hopefully, soon.
“Hopefully, I can play [vs Fulham]. Hopefully, they can see me. I’m in the ground every day,” Mateta added.
