Mateta Cleared for Crystal Palace FA Cup Return

Crystal Palace's striker, Jean-Philippe Mateta, is set to return for the FA Cup quarter-final against Fulham after recovering from a serious injury sustained during a match against Millwall. Mateta suffered head injuries, requiring 25 stitches to his ear, following a reckless challenge by Millwall's goalkeeper Liam Roberts, who received a six-match ban. The French forward, who missed Palace's recent 1-0 Premier League victory over Ipswich, has been training individually and will wear a protective mask to aid his recovery and safeguard his ear. Mateta has expressed his readiness to play through social media posts, signaling his eagerness to return to competitive action. His return marks a significant boost for Crystal Palace as they aim to reach the FA Cup semi-finals for the first time since 2022.