Crystal Palace striker Eddie Nketiah has mentioned that he’s happy to get the chance for extra minutes, although acknowledged that it has not are available the most effective circumstances with Jean-Philippe Mateta sidelined via harm.
Mateta was changed by Nketiah throughout Saturday’s FA Cup victory over Millwall and obtained 25 stitches following a harmful problem from opposition goalkeeper Liam Roberts.
Nketiah scored the ultimate objective of the 3-1 victory and, whereas he was clearly blissful to get gametime, he additionally had concern for the welfare of his team-mate.
“I’m gutted for JP [Jean-Philippe Mateta]. He’s an enormous character and I want him a speedy restoration. I’m blissful we received the win for him, and we go into the following spherical,” mentioned Nketiah.
“That is sadly soccer generally. I need to play minutes, I work arduous each day to try this and I received the chance as we speak, however not in the most effective circumstance.”
Nketiah may now be in line for a begin towards Ipswich City on the weekend, which might be his first because the FA Cup third spherical on 12 January, having scored targets in back-to-back matches.
Regardless of his lack of minutes, he was happy with how his physique held as much as the problem.
“I felt good. I knew it was going to be a troublesome recreation. I needed to keep affected person and, when the second got here, I needed to be able to take it,” he mentioned.
“I pleasure myself on working arduous each day. I’m prepared and hopefully extra alternatives will come. I simply need to be on the market and to assist the workforce.”
Kieran McKenna, in the meantime, doesn’t anticipate having to elevate his gamers for the journey to Selhurst Park, following their penalty defeat at Nottingham Forest within the FA Cup fifth spherical on Monday.
The Tractor Boys at the moment are 5 factors from security with 11 video games remaining within the Premier League season and, requested whether or not the FA defeat would have an effect on his gamers mentally, McKenna mentioned he thought not.
“I don’t assume mentally I’ll, to be trustworthy. The gamers will are available with renewed confidence with the way in which they competed, renewed perception within the squad and the way in which we’re working,” he mentioned.
“They are going to have good emotions from the efficiency. The most important problem is how we recuperate bodily for Saturday.”
Selhurst on the weekend #CPFC // #CRYIPS pic.twitter.com/2W9Be6Fgyw
— Crystal Palace F.C. (@CPFC) March 5, 2025
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Crystal Palace – Eberechi Eze
Eze comes into this match having taken not less than 4 photographs in 4 of his final 5 league appearances, with the one outlier a 29-minute substitute outing at Manchester United final month.
Regardless of harm points which have restricted his involvement to 21 begins within the Premier League, Eze is Palace’s prime assister with six within the league thus far and 9 in all competitions.
Ipswich – Liam Delap
Delap has scored 10 targets within the Premier League this season, which is not less than six greater than every other Ipswich participant.
The 21-year-old has netted two of Ipswich’s final 5 league targets, together with the opener in a 1-1 draw away to Aston Villa in February.
MATCH PREDICTION: CRYSTAL PALACE WIN
Crystal Palace haven’t misplaced any of their final 18 Premier League residence video games towards sides beginning the day within the relegation zone (W12 D6), since a 4-0 loss towards Sunderland in February 2017.
Over the previous 14 Premier League matchdays (since December third), solely Liverpool (33) and Arsenal (29) have earned extra factors than Crystal Palace (27 – W8 D3 L3).
Ipswich, in the meantime, stay winless within the Premier League thus far in 2025, drawing two and shedding six of their eight video games and conceding not less than twice in seven of these. The Tractor Boys have by no means did not win any of their first 9 league video games in a single calendar yr earlier than.
McKenna’s facet at present have the third-worst travelling document within the Premier League, having taken simply 10 factors from 13 matches (W2 D4 L7).
OPTA WIN PROBABILITY
Crystal Palace – 61.9%
Draw – 20.6%
Ipswich – 17.5%