‘It’s day-to-day’ – Oliver Glasner explains managing Crystal Palace midfielder’s injury problem with England withdrawal likely

Oliver Glasner says Crystal Palace have to manage Adam Wharton’s groin problem on a day-by-day basis.

The 20-year-old midfielder has been called up to the England U21 side for their upcoming European Championship qualifiers against Ukraine and Azerbaijan.

But Eagles boss Glasner expects the former Blackburn academy graduate to withdraw from the squad named by interim coach Ben Futcher.

Wharton, who was involved in Gareth Southgate’s England Euro 2024 squad but did not feature once, has started every Premier League game this season but was left out of the starting line-ups for EFL Cup clashes against Norwich and QPR.

“If he plays, he’s fully fit,” said Glasner.

“Otherwise, he wouldn’t play. He had a great game at Everton and had a very good week of training this week.

“We know his situation – we have to take care of him during parts of the week. But, if he plays, he’s fit. Otherwise, I wouldn’t play him.

“It’s day-to-day – sometimes it’s better and sometimes it’s worse.”

Matheus Franca is set to miss nearly the remainder of 2024 after suffering a reoccurrence of the groin injury he suffered last season.

The Brazilian attacker, 20, has only made one Premier League start since signing from Flamengo last summer in a deal worth up to £26million.

Glasner, who confirmed that Franca did not need surgery on his groin again, said: “I have a lot of respect for him. 

“He’s a young guy coming from Brazil. With everything that has happened, he could be very down and frustrated.

“There are some moments where he is, but he stays very positive and accepts all the rehab.

“You see all boys working on the pitch, and you have to be on the bike again, working in the gym again, going to the specialist and going to the doctor.

“What none of us want, and this is what his life has been like for months now. He’s very positive and joins almost every meeting we have here. 

“He looks at how we play, and when we ask the players questions, he’s one of the guys who answers first.

“Big respect for this young Brazilian guy.”

When asked if, with hindsight, he wished that the Eagles had signed another attacker in the summer window with Franca’s injury problems, Glasner added: “No. It makes no sense – the time has gone. 

“We have to find the best solution. We have Jeffrey Schlupp, Ismaila Sarr and Daichi Kamada, who can play as a 10.

“It’s what I mentioned before about the academy. Maybe it’s time for Asher Agbinone or Franco Umeh to get some minutes to show that they can help the first team.

“We decided to go this way. It would be crazy if we complained about it.”

PICTURE: KEITH GILLARD