Jean-Philippe Mateta made a triumphant return to the pitch today, just weeks after suffering a horrific injury that left his ear "destroyed." The Crystal Palace striker was named in the starting XI for the FA Cup quarter-final clash against Fulham at Craven Cottage, donning a unique protective helmet designed to safeguard his injured ear.
Mateta's comeback follows a terrifying incident earlier this month during a fifth-round FA Cup match against Millwall, where he was on the receiving end of a brutal challenge from goalkeeper Liam Roberts. The collision, described as one of the worst seen on a football pitch by Palace chairman Steve Parish, resulted in Mateta needing 25 stitches to repair a severe laceration near his ear. The injury was so serious that he required oxygen and was transported to the hospital for treatment.
Despite the gruesome nature of the injury, Mateta's recovery has been swift. He missed only one match due to the international break, a narrow 1-0 home victory against Ipswich, and has since been training individually. "I spent one week in bed, brought my mother over to England, and she took care of me," Mateta shared in an interview. "The second week I started training individually and was always laughing even when my ear was still swollen."
Before the match, Crystal Palace manager Oliver Glasner spoke about Mateta's condition and the protective gear he would wear. The helmet, resembling a water polo-style headpiece, was specifically designed to cover only the affected ear, a solution inspired by former Chelsea goalkeeper Petr Cech's protective gear following his skull fracture in 2006. Glasner explained, "It’s like a water polo helmet, but with one ear. I said to the doctor I remember Petr Cech wearing a helmet, and he said we need the full helmet for better protection."
Mateta has been in sensational form this season, scoring 15 goals across all competitions, including 12 in 25 Premier League starts, with seven of those coming in his last eight league appearances before his injury. His return is a significant boost for Palace as they aim for glory in the FA Cup. "He’s had this protection for the last 10 days, and he did well in training. He looks the same as he did before," Glasner noted.
As the match approached, excitement filled the air. Fans were eager to see how Mateta would perform, especially given his recent form and the unique circumstances surrounding his return. "When he scores a header tomorrow, then it was the right mask with the right protection," Glasner added confidently.
Mateta's injury had also garnered a wave of support from teammates and fans alike. Defender Chris Richards humorously remarked that Mateta had become the butt of dressing-room jokes, referring to his new headgear as a 'bionic ear.' "He looks like a wrestler," Richards joked, adding that the light-hearted banter had helped lift Mateta's spirits during his recovery.
In an emotional moment, Mateta reflected on the incident that could have been far worse. "I was afraid I’d have broken bones or blood in my brain, but in fact, my ear was just destroyed. At the last moment, I had the reflex to turn my face. I was lucky because if I hadn’t, I would have taken his foot right in the head, and it would have been much worse," he said.
The aftermath of the incident also saw Roberts receive an extended six-match ban from the Football Association, a move that sparked discussions about player safety in the sport. Mateta, however, was quick to absolve Roberts of any ill intent, stating, "I don’t think he woke up and thought, 'I want to cut the head of JP.' It was just a mistake. You learn from it."
With the FA Cup quarter-finals underway, Mateta's return to action is an inspiring story of resilience and determination. As the match kicks off, fans can tune in to talkSPORT for live coverage from Craven Cottage, with commentary provided by Sam Matterface and former Chelsea defender Scott Minto. The atmosphere is electric, and all eyes will be on Mateta as he looks to continue his scoring streak and help his team advance further in the tournament.
As Crystal Palace takes on Fulham in this high-stakes encounter, the narrative of Mateta's comeback adds an extra layer of intrigue to the match. Will he be able to shake off the effects of his injury and deliver a standout performance? Only time will tell, but one thing is certain: the football community is rallying behind him, celebrating his return to the field after such a harrowing experience.
