Crystal Palace striker Jean-Philippe Mateta has suffered a hamstring injury in training and is expected to be sidelined for the next four weeks, according to The Athletic.
The injury comes just hours before Palace's Premier League clash against Manchester City at Selhurst Park on Friday night, their first home game of the season. The France international is set to miss four top-flight matches and will not play again before the first international break of the season.
Potential return date and fixtures missed
His first game back could be the match on October 11, when former Palace manager Oliver Glasner returns to south London with his Nottingham Forest side. The 29-year-old is also expected to miss the Carabao Cup third round tie against Middlesbrough and Palace's first ever Europa League match.
Palace qualified for the Europa League by winning the Conference League last season, with Mateta scoring the winner in the final against Rayo Vallecano.
Games Mateta could miss
- Man City (H) – August 28, Premier League
- Fulham (A) – September 5, Premier League
- Middlesbrough (H) – TBC, Carabao Cup
- Ipswich (H) – September 12, Premier League
- TBC – September 16/17, Europa League
- Leeds (A) – September 19, Premier League
The Eagles have been drawn against Real Sociedad, Sparta Praha, Lech Poznan, Hoffenheim, Lyon, RB Salzburg, Jagiellonia Białystok and Beşiktaş in the Europa League, though the fixtures are yet to be finalised.
Third injury blow for Palace
It is the third major injury blow Pierre Sage's side have suffered since the start of the season. Star winger Ismaila Sarr is out with a groin issue, while defender Chadi Riad was stretchered off with a knee injury during last weekend's loss at Everton.
