Crystal Palace manager Oliver Glasner could have another striker back soon.placeholder image
Crystal Palace manager Oliver Glasner could have another striker back soon. | Getty Images
Oliver Glasner could have a striker back in the matchday squad in time to face Everton after the international break.
Crystal Palace could have striker Eddie Nketiah back in action ahead of time as he makes fast progress in recovering from an injury that has kept him out of action this season so far.
The injury boost for Oliver Glasner comes at a vital time and could impact how the club approaches the final days of the transfer window. Nketiah joined the Eagles from Arsenal on a £25 million move last summer.
The striker made 37 appearances in all competitions last term, scoring seven goals and picking up three assists. Crystal Palace have lost the attacking influence of Eberechi Eze to Arsenal this summer and the upcoming return of Nketiah is a significant boost.
Crystal Palace handed injury boost
Speaking about the player at the start of August, Glasner said: “It is no secret Eddie Nketiah missed more or less the whole pre-season, because on the second day at the start of pre-season, he had a small injury, and now he has a more serious injury and will be out for what looks like eight weeks. Then, without any pre-season, I think it will take him three or four more weeks to be ready.”
Journalist Bobby Manzi now adds that Crystal Palace had feared that Nketiah could have been out of action until November but it’s positive news when it comes to his progress. It’s now touted that the former Gunners forward could return to Premier League action at the start of October.
That suggests that Nketiah will still be absent for the matches against West Ham and Liverpool immediately after the international break but could be back on the pitch at Everton on October 4 or against AFC Bournemouth on October 18.
Eddie Nketiah injury boost could impact Eagles transfer
Manzi adds that Nketiah’s return could mean that Crystal Palace do not push to sign another striker before the end of the window, unless Odsonne Edouard secures a move from Selhurst Park. The south London club had been linked with a move for Wolves man Hwang Hee-chan as he struggles for minutes at Molineux.
Molineux News had carried reports from journalist Liam Keen claiming that Crystal Palace had offered a £1 million loan fee with the option to buy for £12 million after 12 months. That deal had stalled with Wolves keen to keep the player and the Nketiah news could formally see the Eagles end interest.
Wolves boss Vitor Pereira spoke positively of Hwang this week after the star chose to face West Ham in the Carabao Cup instead of returning to South Korea following the death of his grandfather.
The striker missed a penalty in that 3-2 win and has not scored since December. Pereira said: "Do you know what happened with Hee-chan this week? His grandfather passed away,. When I ask him, I said you decide if you want to go to Korea - his grandfather was very close to him.
"He showed me he wants to help the team, he wants to stay here, he wants to try. He gave everything to help us. We need to respect his character a lot and I respect him. He is a player I want to keep here."
In other news, Crystal Palace 'close' to agreeing fee for Arsenal hot shot with 20 goals in 24 youth games.
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