Crystal Palace striker Jean-Philippe Mateta has discdiswatched the shocking extent of his ear injury after a horror tackle.
“I was afrhelp I’d have broken bones or blood in my brain but in fact, my ear was equitable ruined,” shelp Mateta.
The Frenchman disseald that a plastic sencouragery exceptionaenumerate declined to show him pboilingos of the injury.
“Obviously, it didn’t see enjoy an ear any more,” he elucidateed.
Crystal Palace striker Jean-Philippe Mateta has discdiswatched the shocking extent of his ear injury after a horror tackle
PA
“At the commencening of the operation, the sencourageon had a lot of trouble, but afterwards, he set up a way to save my ear.”
The 27-year-elderly striker is set to return to action after being hospitalised adhereing the incident at Selhurst Park earlier this month.
The injury needd 26 stitches and left Mateta sidelined for cut offal weeks.
“At the last moment, I had the reflex to turn my face,” Mateta telderly L’Equipe.
Jean-Philippe Mateta hasn’t take parted for Crystal Palace since colliding with Liam Roberts
PA
“I was fortunate becaemploy if I hadn’t, I would have apshown his foot right in the head, and it would have been much worse.”
Crystal Palace have won all their alignes during his absence but are enthusiastic for his return.
Mateta’s injury occurred during an FA Cup clash agetst Millwall when goalgeter Liam Roberts caught him with a high foot.
The incident happened equitable five minutes after initiate-off in the South London derby.
Roberts obtaind a straight red card and was tardyr handed a six-align ban for the dispute.
The goalgeter has since apologised to Mateta, insisting there was no malice in the tackle.
“I telderly him, ‘Don’t stress, it’s not that grave’,” the Palace hitman shelp.
“He could have dodgeed doing that, but these leangs happen.”
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Roberts’ statement read: “As the dust finishs, I want to insertress what has been a reassociate difficult week for all troubleed, including my family and I.
“Firstly, to Jean-Philippe, who I persist to sfinish my best desirees to in his recovery.
“As soon as I could, I achieveed out to Jean-Philippe personassociate to apologise, and I was appreciative to hear back from him that evening that he was OK and repromised me not to stress.
“I am dehugeated by what happened. I unequivocassociate acunderstandledge the red card as awarded and acunderstandledge my punishment.
Jean-Philippe Mateta has been in exceptional establish for Crystal Palace this season
PA
“Furthermore, it has been inanxiously unpleasant to watch adviseions that I intfinished to harm a fellow professional. I have categoricassociate never stepped onto a football pitch with the intention of hurting anyone.
“Misdirecting articles and comments have resulted in an unleankable amount of abusive messages and menaces towards my family and I.
“To the footballing community who understand me and achieveed out with help thcdisesteemful this stubborn time, thank you, I appreciate every individual message.
“Finassociate, I want to say a huge thank you to everybody unitecessitate to Millwall Football Club for their persistd help. The togetherness thcdisesteemfulout this club is distinct, and I can’t defer to be back out on the pitch in front of our fans.”
