Crystal Palace attacker Matheus Franca suffers groin injury
Crystal Palace’s Matheus Franca is set for yet another spell on the sidelines following a return to full training just last week.
Franca, 20, has spent the majority of his time in South London on the treatment table, amassing as little as 322 minutes on the pitch in a year at the club.
As Palace sit in the Premier League relegation zone, Oliver Glasner confirmed that the £25 million attacker has suffered a recurring adductor groin injury, adding that he is unlikely to play much in the calendar year.
“Franca is unfortunately injured again,” Glasner said. “Adductor groin. It is a tough situation for him especially and for us. I don’t expect that he will play many games in 2024 for us. We don’t know exactly how long it will take, but it will take several weeks.”
Last week, after recovering from groin surgery and fractured ribs, Franca completed his first full training week in six months.
Crystal Palace have put contract talks with Oliver Glasner on the backburner after their poor start to this season, sources have told Football Insider.
Football Insider revealed on Monday (30 September) that Palace boss Glasner will get time to turn the club’s results around.
Sources say Glasner has “credit in the bank” at Selhurst Park after his work with the Eagles last season.
Crystal Palace are one of five winless sides in the Premier League and have picked up just three points from their first six games.
German giants Bayern Munich enquired about Glasner’s availability in May but saw their approach rejected by Palace.
The Austrian is only under contract at Selhurst Park until June 2026 but club chiefs are not ready to rush into renewal discussions amid a period of bad form.
Glasner talks on the backburner at Crystal Palace
Star man Michael Olise departed for Bayern Munich in the summer window – and is proving to be a big miss for the Eagles.
New signings like Daichi Kamada and Eddie Nketiah are yet to click at the Croydon club, who are in the relegation zone at this early stage of the season.
Glasner succeeded Roy Hodgson in February with Palace 15th and five points above the drop zone.
The Eagles ended the season in 10th, 23 points clear of trouble.
Palace face first-place Liverpool on Saturday (5 October) before the two-week international break.
