Crystal Palace striker Eddie Nketiah has conveyed hope for teammate Jean-Philippe Mateta’s swift recovery after a concerning incident during their FA Cup match against Millwall.
Mateta, who has African heritage from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, was taken to the hospital following a serious collision with Millwall goalkeeper Liam Roberts, who was subsequently sent off for the foul.
Despite the troubling circumstances surrounding Mateta’s injury, Nketiah played a pivotal role in the team’s 3-1 victory.
The 24-year-old forward, who also has Ghanaian roots, scored one of the goals that secured Palace’s place in the next round of the tournament.
After the match, Nketiah expressed disappointment for his injured teammate.
“I’m gutted for JP. He’s a big character and I wish him a speedy recovery. I’m happy we got the win for him and go into the next round.
“This is unfortunately football sometimes. I want to play minutes, I work hard every day to do that, and today I got the opportunity – not in the best circumstances.
“I felt good, I knew it was going to be a tough game, had to stay patient and when the moment came, I had to be ready to take it.
“I’m ready, I pride myself on working hard every day. I’m ready and hopefully more opportunities will come, I just wan to be out there and help the team.”
