Crystal Palace manager Oliver Glasner has set the stage for a crucial European night at Selhurst Park, addressing the media ahead of Thursday's UEFA Conference League quarter-final first leg against Italian side Fiorentina. The Eagles are looking to carry their impressive domestic form onto the continental stage, and Glasner's squad update was a mix of relief and fresh concern.
The major positive news revolves around midfield linchpin Adam Wharton. The young Englishman picked up what Glasner described as a "minor adductor issue" while on international duty with England in their friendly against Uruguay. However, the manager confirmed the issue is "all sorted" and Wharton "is available" for selection. Glasner praised the England setup's management of his player, noting, "The English team managed the minutes very well so we are very pleased that Adam also got a little bit of a break and then started preparing for the Fiorentina game by Sunday." His availability is a significant boost for Palace's midfield structure.
Unfortunately, the news was not as positive for striker Eddie Nketiah. In a cruel twist of fate, Nketiah suffered a fresh hamstring injury in the final moments of Tuesday's training session. "It looks like everybody is available... up until two minutes before the end of the session," Glasner revealed. "Eddie unfortunately injured his hamstring again and had to leave the pitch. He won’t make tomorrow’s squad... it doesn’t look good again for him." This is a frustrating setback for the forward, who will now require another scan.
Glasner expressed clear sympathy for the player's plight, stating, "He was very disappointed and we are suffering with him. The worst thing as a player is when you are injured, especially when you have setbacks... Like always he will have all our support to come back." The manager hopes to have more concrete information on the severity by Wednesday.
Beyond those two key updates, the squad is in relatively strong health. Glasner confirmed that all other players are available, highlighting a rare moment of depth: "On Sunday we trained with 23 outfield players for the first time this season." He also reflected positively on managing the recent international break, utilizing the time for both rest and focused preparation with the players who remained in London, ensuring the team stays in rhythm for this pivotal European tie.