Eddie Nketiah Steps In For Injured Mateta While Expressing Concern For His Welfare

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Crystal Palace forward Eddie Nketiah expressed satisfaction with his increased playing time, though he noted it came under unfortunate circumstances due to Jean-Philippe Mateta's injury. Mateta was injured during the FA Cup win over Millwall, requiring 25 stitches after a challenge from goalkeeper Liam Roberts. Nketiah scored in the 3-1 victory and, while glad for the opportunity, showed concern for his teammate's wellbeing.

Nketiah remarked, "I'm gutted for JP [Jean-Philippe Mateta]. He is a big character and I wish him a speedy recovery. I'm happy we got the win for him, and we go into the next round." Despite his desire for more minutes, he acknowledged that this chance arose from an unfortunate situation.

Nketiah might start against Ipswich Town this weekend, marking his first start since the FA Cup third round on January 12th. He has been scoring consistently in recent matches. Despite limited playtime, he felt physically prepared for the challenge. "I felt good. I knew it was going to be a tough game," he stated. "I had to stay patient and, when the moment came, I had to be ready to take it."

Meanwhile, Ipswich Town manager Kieran McKenna remains optimistic about his team's morale following their penalty defeat at Nottingham Forest in the FA Cup fifth round. The team is five points away from safety with 11 Premier League games left. McKenna believes his players will maintain confidence despite their recent loss.

Eberechi Eze of Crystal Palace has been active in front of goal recently, taking at least four shots in four of his last five league games. Despite injuries limiting him to 21 starts this season, Eze leads Palace with six league assists and nine across all competitions.

Liam Delap stands out for Ipswich Town with ten Premier League goals this season—six more than any other player on his team. The 21-year-old scored two of Ipswich's last five league goals, including one in a draw against Aston Villa in February.

Match Predictions and Statistics

Crystal Palace are favoured to win against Ipswich Town based on historical performance and current form. They have not lost any of their last 18 home games against teams starting the day in the relegation zone since February 2017. Over recent matchdays, only Liverpool and Arsenal have earned more points than Crystal Palace.

Ipswich Town remain winless in the Premier League this year, drawing two and losing six of their eight matches while conceding at least twice in seven games. They have never failed to win any of their first nine league games in a calendar year before now.

The Opta Win Probability gives Crystal Palace a 61.9% chance of winning, with a draw at 20.6%, and Ipswich having a 17.5% chance of victory.