Oliver Glasner provides pre-Liverpool injury news – Crystal Palace attacker suffers setback

Oliver Glasner has ruled Matheus Franca out for the majority of 2024 after the Brazillian attacker suffered a groin injury.

Franca featured 12 times in his debut season for the Eagles after joining from Flamengo in a deal worth up to £26million, but suffered a groin injury which required surgery towards the end of the last campaign.

The 20-year-old then fractured his rib in pre-season training and missed the start of the 2024-25 season.

Franca returned to training ahead of Manchester United but has now suffered another setback.

 “Franca is unfortunately injured again,” Glasner said. “It’s his adductor groin. It is a tough situation for him, especially for us. 

“I don’t expect that he will play many games in 2024 for us. We don’t know exactly how long it will take, but it will take several weeks.”

Cheick Doucoure and Chadi Riad are both ruled out.

“It’s possible he [Doucoure] joins training in the second week of the international break,” said Glasner.

“Nobody is close to coming back.”