Crystal Palace boss Oliver Glasner provides Matheus Franca injury update

Oliver Glasner says it will be several weeks before Matheus Franca will be considered available for his Crystal Palace squad.

The Brazilian attacker has only featured twice under Glasner after suffering a groin injury at the back end of last season, which required surgery.

Franca, who featured 12 times in his debut season for the Eagles after joining from Flemngo in a deal worth up to £26million, then fractured his rib in pre-season training.

The Eagles boss said the 20-year-old had resumed individual training in his pre-Leicester press conference.

Asked whether the South Londoners will take caution with reintroducing Franca, Glasner said: “At the end of the season, he had surgery, and his last game was coming on against Tottenham for the last 15 minutes – months ago.

“He’s still not training with the team, so he will need team and football training. He will have all of our support.

“But it will take several weeks.

“Everyone will be very important and play a big part for us, because we reduced the number of players [in our squad]. We have 20 outfield players and have three goalkeepers in our squad.

“We wanted to reduce it [the squad]. We want to go as far as possible in both cups in England.

“More than 50 games [with this squad] would be outstanding, and 20 players should be enough, but we need them in their best shape – we need them fit. That’s why everybody gets all of our support.”

PICTURE: KEITH GILLARD