Crystal Palace forward Jean-Philippe Mateta has broken his silence after sustaining a serious injury against Millwall.
Mateta, 27, was on the end of a 'reckless' challenge by Millwall goalkeeper Liam Roberts in the eighth minute of Crystal Palace’s 3-1 win against the Lions in the FA Cup fifth round at Selhurst Park on Saturday.
Roberts, 30, attempted to clear a loose ball but kicked the side of the Frenchman’s head.
The 27-year-old was then treated on the pitch and given oxygen before being taken to the hospital in an ambulance.
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According to BBC Sport, he is due to “undergo surgery on his ear”.
Palace chairman Steve Parish was left furious by what he described as "the most reckless challenge on a football pitch I've ever seen".
"There's a lot of emotion in football but we need to talk about that challenge," Parish told BBC Sport at half-time.
"I've never seen a challenge like it... that's the most reckless challenge on a football pitch I've ever seen.
"He [Liam Roberts] needs to have a long, hard look at himself because he's endangering a fellow professional with a challenge like that.
"And why the referee needs to go to the screen, I have no idea... If you're kicking him in the head at full force, who knows what kind of damage could be done."
But Millwall boss Alex Neil explained how he thought there was no intent from Roberts to injure Mateta, he said: "The first challenge? I don't think it's meant. I don't think there's any intent, of course not. Why would there be any intent? It's the start of the game. The ball gets put in behind and he's just trying to get there. I certainly wouldn't label it the worst challenge I've seen."
Now, Mateta has finally issued an update on his condition.
"I'm doing well,” Mateta wrote on social media.
“I hope to be back very soon and stronger than ever. Well done, guys for the great job today."
The Eagles will be hoping to see the forward return to action soon, as he has scored 15 goals in 33 appearances this season.
Topics: Crystal Palace, Millwall, FA Cup, Injury, Football, Premier League
Luke Davies