Crystal Palace's English midfielder #10 Eberechi Eze (C) celebrates with teammates after scoring the opening goal during the English Premier League football match between Liverpool and Crystal Palace at Anfield in Liverpool, north west England on April 14, 2024. (Photo by Paul ELLIS / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. / (Photo by PAUL ELLIS/AFP via Getty Images)
Oliver Glasner says two Crystal Palace stars will not play again this season
Oliver Glasner has now revealed that two Crystal Palace players will not feature again this season.
Injuries have been a major problem for us throughout the 2023/24 campaign, with Roy Hodgson’s training methods believed to have caused issues regarding fitness.
The likes of Ebere Eze, Michael Olise, Marc Guehi, Cheick Doucoure and Matheus Franca have all been absent for large chunks of the season.
There have been changes made by Oliver Glasner in an attempt to improve the fitness situation, and while the players looked a lot sharper in last week’s 1-0 win against Liverpool, there are two stars at Crystal Palace who will have to wait until next season to play again…
Oliver Glasner confirms Matheus Franca and Cheick Doucoure will not play again this season
Well, the Austrian has now revealed that Cheick Doucoure and Matheus Franca will not feature again for Crystal Palace this season.
The Brazilian has been forced to undergo surgery to fix a groin problem.
In regards to Doucoure, there were hopes that the Mali international could feature again this season despite snapping his Achilles against Luton back in November.
However, the Crystal Palace No.28 will not return in time to play again this season – which is probably for the best given the severity of his injury.
As quoted by London News Online, Glasner said: “He (Franca) won’t return this season. He had surgery, so he will be out for the rest of the season.
“For all of us, if you have to go to hospital and undergo surgery, it’s always the worst part of life. Then you have health problems, it’s the worst thing you can have. He’s going up and he has all of our support. We hope that he’s back when we start with the pre-season.”
London News Online add that Glasner also confirmed Doucoure will miss the rest of the season – but did not provide those quotes.
Crystal Palace need a revamp in the medical department
Not only are Franca and Doucoure absent, but Chris Richards and Jefferson Lerma will miss Sunday’s clash against West Ham – as will Sam Johnstone and Guehi.
So many key players have been absent this season, and after Brentford decided to launch an internal investigation to get to the root of their own injury nightmare, we feel Crystal Palace must do the same.
Glasner actually has a fantastic squad when everybody is fit, but Crystal Palace fans have rarely been able to see the best players line up together, as a result of the constant niggles.
Hopefully, work is done on this front over the summer, and injuries do not occur as frequently in the 2024/25 campaign.
