Crystal Palace may have already called time on Christantus Uche's Selhurst Park career before it's even truly started after Oliver Glasner removed him from their Conference League squad.
The Eagles completed a deal to sign the Nigerian forward last summer on an initial season-long loan deal from Getafe, with an obligation to buy for £17.3m this summer. But the powerful attacker has struggled for regular first-team minutes this season, failing to start a single game in the Premier League, and registering just 143 minutes of action.
The 22-year-old has found most of his game time coming in the Conference League, where he has scored two goals in four appearances, but he won't be featuring in that tournament anymore, and that could spell the end of his time in south London.
Uche Clearly Not in Crystal Palace Plans
Christantus Uche Crystal Palace Shelbourne
Uche, who was described as an 'exciting' talent when he signed, was left out of the Palace squad for the knockout stages of the Conference League this week, with manager Oliver Glasner instead opting to bring in new signings Brennan Johnson, Jorgen Strand Larsen, and Evann Guessand.
But in a major kick in the teeth to the Nigerian, Glasner also opted to include wantaway striker Jean-Philippe Mateta as well, despite the Frenchman needing knee surgery and asking to leave the club during the January window.
It now means that Uche is likely to see even more limited minutes in the remainder of the season, with several new faces leapfrogging him in the pecking order after the January transfer window, and it raises major question marks over his long-term future at the club.
Despite the club having an obligation to make his move permanent, it's now not out of the realms that he is moved on, even with Glasner on the move at the end of the season too.
Mateta is expected to leave, having seen his deadline day move to AC Milan collapse due to a knee injury. But after staying at the club, it seems that Glasner still plans to lean on him, rather than giving someone who has a future at the club a chance.
Uche Being Wasted at Palace
Oliver Glasner
Uche has clearly got talent, and the decision not to include him in the squad is a real sucker punch.
He has performed well in the tournament, and seemed to be growing into his role in the Palace side. If he isn't being used now, ahead of a player who literally doesn't want to be there, then his chances of still being there next year when the season starts look slim.
Uche isn't officially a Palace player until the summer, but his career at Selhurst Park may be over before it's even started.
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