Is Wharton’s Shocking Fitness Secret About to Derail His Season? Nketiah’s Injury Adds to the Drama!

As Crystal Palace prepares to face Fiorentina in the first leg of the Conference League quarter-finals on Thursday at Selhurst Park, manager Oliver Glasner addressed the media, providing updates on player fitness and team strategy.

One of the key updates came regarding midfielder Adam Wharton, who recently suffered a "minor adductor issue" while playing for England in their friendly against Uruguay. Glasner reassured fans that "it's all sorted" and confirmed that Wharton is available for the match. “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,” he noted.

However, not all injury news was positive. Glasner revealed that striker Eddie Nketiah sustained a fresh hamstring injury during training just two minutes before the session ended. “It's how football is – it looks like everybody is available for tomorrow's game and it was, up until two minutes before the end of the session. Eddie, unfortunately, injured his hamstring again and had to leave the pitch. He won't make tomorrow's squad, and we will have a scan again but it doesn't look good again for him,” Glasner said, expressing sympathy for Nketiah's unfortunate setback.

“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, and that makes it really tough for Eddie. Like always, he will have all our support to come back. We will know more tomorrow,” Glasner added, highlighting the emotional toll injuries can take on players.

On a more positive note, Glasner confirmed that the rest of the squad is fit and available for the upcoming match. “All the others are available. On Sunday we trained with 23 outfield players for the first time this season. It's how it is,” he remarked, indicating a stronger team depth as they approach a crucial stage in the tournament.

The international break provided an opportunity for players to regroup and refresh. Glasner shared insights on how the team utilized this time, saying, “We managed these three weeks quite well for everyone. I spent some time with the family, then we started with the players who were here—seven players plus a few from our under-21s. We started two weeks before tomorrow's game, and we had an in-house game with our under-21s to stay in the rhythm. All internationals had minutes with their national teams, then all the internationals had a few days off after the game—we could afford this.”

Glasner himself took advantage of the break to recharge, stating, “When I went home my calendar was empty and I was a bit nervous about what to do because I'm not used to it, but then I went skiing in the mountains; it was good, for two days, and I spent some time with the family.”

Looking ahead to the match against Fiorentina, Glasner expressed confidence in his team's preparation. “On Saturday, I went to Verona to watch Fiorentina. On Sunday, we were all together and started to prepare. We had quite a lot of time to prepare—we feel ready and we're looking ready,” he said. This proactive approach could be crucial as Palace aims to make a strong statement in this important competition.

The match kicks off at 20:00 BST, and it promises to be an exciting encounter as Crystal Palace seeks to advance to the next stage of the tournament. With the squad's depth being tested and key players recovering from injuries, all eyes will be on how Glasner’s strategies unfold against a formidable Fiorentina side.