Oliver Glasner has said he expects wantaway striker Jean-Philippe Mateta to play for Crystal Palace again before the end of the season.
Mateta is currently out with the same knee injury which prevented him from completing a Deadline Day move to AC Milan in January and has not featured for Palace since their 3-1 defeat to Chelsea.
The French striker made clear his desire to leave Palace last month, but following multiple failed medical tests, he was unable to complete a move away from the club.
Mateta, who will not undergo surgery on his knee, was pictured watching on as Palace trained ahead of their Conference League play-off second leg at home to HSK Zrinjski Mostar tomorrow night, with the 28-year-old targeting a return to fitness before the March international break.
In his pre-match press conference on Wednesday afternoon, Glasner was asked about Mateta’s situation and said he hoped he would play again for Palace this season.
"I hope so, that's the plan. He's working hard on his rehab,” Glasner said.
Palace bolstered their attacking options in the January transfer window, signing Jorgen Strand Larsen, Evann Guessand and winger Brennan Johnson.
Johnson has endured a difficult start to life at Selhurst Park, failing to score or assist in his first 10 games in all competitions for the club. But Strand Larsen and Guessand, who scored a 90th-minute winner at home to Wolves last weekend, are both off the mark.
Mateta is hoping to be selected for France’s World Cup squad this summer, but has struggled for form and fitness with Palace finding it hard to manage playing in multiple competitions this season.
