- Crystal Palace star suffers injury blow ahead of Newcastle United
- Talisman injured in ‘final hours’ of training session prior to Fiorentina
- Potential boost for Eddie Howe’s side
Newcastle United will travel to Selhurst Park this weekend as they look to get their European push back on track. Crystal Palace come into the fixture off the back of a perfect 3-0 win over Fiorentina in the Conference League quarter finals.
In a blow confirmed ahead of that game, Eagles forward Eddie Nketiah sustained a training ground injury. The former Arsenal man missed out in midweek and is expected to be absent on Sunday in a potential boost for Newcastle United.
Earlier this week, Glasner said: “He won’t make tomorrow’s (Thursday’s) squad. He will have a scan again, but it doesn’t really look good for him.”
Big impact in limited appearances
The 26-year-old has only scored twice in the Premier League so far this season, but both have been crucial, helping the Eagles to three points in games against Liverpool and Fulham. Nketiah is a proven Premier League talisman with 24 top flight goals to his name.
The striker has suffered several injuries throughout the campaign, with his last league outing coming in December, as a thigh injury has ruled him out since.
Palace have struggled since the turn of the new year, with Jean Philippe-Mateta misfiring. The Frenchman had scored two goals in all competitions since January prior to bagging against Fiorentina. Not having Nketiah as another option has been frustrating for the London outfit.
It had appeared as if the 26-year-old was on the verge of return before enduring the setback in the final two minutes of a recent training session.
When Nketiah scored his added-time winner against Arne Slot’s side, Glasner waxed lyrical about the forward, stating his hard work is making him a better player.
He said: “He’s so ambitious and is working very hard, which he got the reward for today.
“One of our slogans is: If you invest, you get something back. It’s one of the credences in my life. Eddie is investing so much, and he got the reward with the match-winner in front of our fans, getting celebrated.”
Newcastle United defence key to success
The Magpies defence will have their work cut out this weekend in keeping a buoyed Crystal Palace attacking line quiet.
Mateta’s Conference League penalty will boost his confidence with winter signing Jorgen Strand Larsen proving dangerous since moving to Selhurst Park with three goals to his name.
Ismaila Sarr is also a tricky customer and netted against Fiorentina. Lewis Hall will have an important role to play against the Senegalese winger, who is the club’s second-highest scorer in the league this season.
If Malick Thiaw and Dan Burn can find their feet quickly, and Tino Livramento matches the talent of Evan Guessand, the Magpies will have a great chance of coming away with a result.
In other news, Newcastle United receive Champions League boost after UEFA statement.
