Jean-Philippe Mateta is poised to make his return to Crystal Palace in their upcoming FA Cup clash against Fulham on Saturday, following a harrowing injury that left him sidelined since March 1. Mateta incurred a serious ear injury in Crystal Palace’s 3-1 win over Millwall. Though he has now been cleared to play, he will wear a protective mask to shield his recovering ear.
Mateta’s injury was a significant one when Millwall goalkeeper Liam Roberts came in with a high boot challenge. The attack resulted in a substantial loss of blood with paramedics, who were friends of Mateta, racing him to the hospital with deep gashes around his ear. It was a bad injury that required 25 stitches to repair. Little did Mateta know at that time just how severe the injury actually was.
"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'," Mateta recalled.
Roberts’ penalty for the illegitimate challenge came swiftly. His assault on the field prompted The Football Association to give him a six-match ban. Mateta, who had undergone two surgeries at the beginning of the pandemic lockdown, was desperate to return to action. He argued with the team physician to let him return to the game immediately after sustaining it.
"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," he said.
Mateta’s week in Marbella last week included medical treatment as well as training. He’s finally healthy enough to come back to his teammates. The 41-year-old indicated his readiness during the week with an Instagram post that simply read “It’s time,” which foreshadowed his excitement for the rematch.
To protect his face while playing, Mateta will wear a custom molded mask. This mask will protect his healing ear while at the same time help build ear-shaped ears. This precaution is a necessary one considering the scope of the damage and the current state of recovery efforts.
"I need to wear a mask, I need to wear something," Mateta stated. "I will take the best one that is most comfortable."
Through everything Mateta put in the work and remained positive on the way back. He looks forward to mesmerizing fans with his dramatic artistry once more in the near future.
"Hopefully, I can play [vs Fulham]. Hopefully, they can see me. I'm in the ground every day."
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