Crystal Palace are expecting Jean-Philippe Mateta to return from his hamstring injury in time to face Nottingham Forest next month, providing a boost to Oliver Glasner’s squad.
The 29-year-old has been sidelined since suffering the injury shortly before Palace’s 4-1 defeat by Manchester City. His last appearance came on the opening weekend, when he played 63 minutes in the 2-0 loss to Everton.
Mateta is expected to miss out on a place in Zinedine Zidane’s first France squad ahead of the upcoming international break. His absence has also left his future at Selhurst Park uncertain, with the striker out of contract next summer.
Palace rejected a £25 million bid from Aston Villa for Mateta and had been open to selling him during the summer before the hamstring problem ended the possibility of a move. He also came close to leaving in January, when a proposed transfer to AC Milan collapsed after a medical detected a knee injury.
Mateta chose not to undergo surgery on that issue, later returned to fitness and scored the winning goal in the final as Palace lifted the Conference League in May. He was subsequently included in France’s World Cup squad as the team reached the semi-finals in North America.
The striker’s contract position remains unresolved. His attempt to have the final year of his Palace deal declared invalid has been rejected by both a Premier League tribunal and FIFA, meaning he is currently free to leave the club next summer.
