Jean-Philippe Mateta is poised to make his return to the pitch for Crystal Palace, Oliver Glasner has confirmed.
The Frenchman has been sidelined with a knee injury since January, when his Deadline Day transfer to AC Milan fell through after he failed a medical.
He last appeared for the side in their 3-1 defeat by Chelsea on January 25, missing seven matches he and the club decided against undergoing surgery.
But he will be back in contention for Palace’s Conference League round of 16 first-leg at home to AEK Larnaca, with plans in place for him to re-join partial first-team training next week.
Glasner explained: “We’re planning for him to be partly integrated next Monday in the team training for the Larnaca game. It will be the same, starting from the bench.
“He was out for a long time, but his knee looks better now. That’s why we have decided to reintegrate him. We have to be careful, but the goal is that he is available for the Larnaca and Leeds games.”
Palace faced Larnaca in the Conference League league phase, losing 1-0. Mateta played the full match.
He will have to earn back his place, though. Palace signed Wolves striker Jorgen Strand Larsen late in the January transfer window when Mateta’s sale to Milan looked likely, and he has impressed in his six appearances for the club.
Glasner continued, adding that defender Jefferson Lerma would also soon be back in the fold for Palace. He is expected to feature in the matchday squad away at Tottenham on Thursday - a welcome boost amid Maxence Lacroix’s suspension.
“Jefferson Lerma is back in the squad but not ready to start," the Austrian added. "He trained with us and is ok. It’s quite early, but if we need him for 15-20 minutes at the end we have him.
“He’s available for 15-20 minutes. That means it is either Chadi [Riad] or Nathaniel Clyne will play [in defence]. They are the options we have and one of them will start.”
Eddie Nketiah, though, is facing a few more weeks out with a thigh injury. Glasner concluded: “Eddie Nketiah won’t be available before April. So we’re pushing hard to have him back in the team.”
