The games Jean-Philippe Mateta will miss for Crystal Palace after hamstring injury

Jean-Philippe Mateta’s hopes of leaving Crystal Palace have taken a huge blow (Photo: Getty)

Jean-Philippe Mateta has suffered a painful hamstring injury just hours before Crystal Palace ’s Premier League clash against Manchester City .

Palace welcome City to Selhurst Park on Friday night for their first home game of the season but will be without their prolific striker.

The Athletic report that Mateta sustained the injury in training and is expected to be sidelined for the next four weeks, in what could prove to be a massive blow for the Eagles.

If true, the France international will not play again before the first international break of the season, thereby missing four top-flight matches.

His first game back from injury could well be the highly-anticipated match on October 11, when former Palace manager Oliver Glasner returns to south London with his Nottingham Forest side.

The 29-year-old is also set to miss the Carabao Cup third round clash against Middlesbrough and Palace’s first ever Europa League match.

Palace qualified for the Europa League by winning the Conference League last season, with Mateta scoring the winner in the final against Rayo Vallecano.

While the fixtures are yet to be finalised, the Eagles have been drawn against Real Sociedad, Sparta Praha, Lech Poznan, Hoffenheim, Lyon, RB Salzburg, Jagiellonia Białystok and Beşiktaş.

It’s the third major injury blow Pierre Sage’s side have suffered since the start of the season, with star winger Ismaila Sarr out with a groin issue, while defender Chadi Riad was stretchered off with a knee injury during last weekend’s loss at Everton.

More to follow…