Crystal Palace midfielder Adam Wharton will remain out for “a few (more) weeks,” manager Oliver Glasner has confirmed.
The 20-year-old has been absent since being taken off in Palace’s 2-1 Carabao Cup victory over Aston Villa with a groin problem he had been managing since the summer.
That flare up to the issue which began during his participation in the England squad which made the European Championship final in the summer, even if he did not play, prompted Palace to ensure Wharton underwent surgery on his groin.
There had been hope that he might return for Sunday’s match with rivals Brighton & Hove Albion but Glasner previously revealed in his pre-match press conference for that game that Wharton had suffered a setback.
He has now revealed that the youngster, who joined from Blackburn Rovers in January and impressed throughout last season, will be absent for longer than originally anticipated.
Eberechi Eze is also a possible doubt for Wednesday night’s Carabao Cup quarter final clash with Arsenal after being taken off in the second half of the 3-1 win at Brighton with a swollen foot, but Jean-Philippe Mateta, also replaced, is available.
“JP (Mateta) is OK and Ebs we’ll take a final decision tomorrow,” Glasner said in his pre-match press conference. “It looks quite good but he got a hit on the top of his foot and it’s swollen. He could do a little bit of training today.
“Adam can’t train with us at the moment, it will take a few weeks.”
Chris Richards is available again after missing the Brighton win due to the birth of his child, but Chadi Riad suffered a setback in his return from a knee ligament injury sustained on his debut in the 4-0 second round Carabao Cup win over Norwich City in September. He was substituted at half-time in the Under-21s’ 3-1 win over Anderlecht on December 10.
Palace are hoping to reach the semi-finals of the Carabao Cup for the first time in 13 years, when they were beaten by Cardiff City on penalties after the two-legged tie finished level.
They face Arsenal again in the Premier League on Saturday, hosting them at Selhurst Park.
GO DEEPER
Crystal Palace shake off their Brighton blues – and show an impetus to kick on
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