What headgear is Jean-Philippe Mateta wearing? Crystal Palace striker like Petr Cech as Oliver Glasner explains ‘water polo helmet’
Jean-Philippe Mateta is back from his horror injury, but he’s now having to wear some unique protective headgear. Mateta was given oxygen and taken to hospital following a huge collision with Millwall goalkeeper Liam Roberts earlier this month. Mateta was hospitalised after a horror collision in the FA Cup fifth roundGetty The Crystal Palace striker received 25 stitches around his ear after the terrifying clash that led to some controversy. Fortunately, he managed to recover well and now he’s set to make a comeback in the FA Cup quarter-finals. He will be featuring for Palace in their clash against Fulham, live on talkSPORT, but he’ll have extra protection on… What headgear is Mateta wearing? Mateta is wearing a water polo-style helmet with a change that sees only his affected ear covered. The headgear is similar to that of ex-Chelsea goalkeeper Petr Cech, who wore the covering after fracturing his skull in 2006. Crystal Palace manager Oliver Glasner referenced Cech when discussing with staff about a solution for Mateta. He explained in his pre-Fulham press conference on Friday: “It’s like a water polo helmet, but with one ear. “I said to the doctor I remember Petr Cech wearing a helmet and he said, ‘Yeah but the ear was free (uncovered), so we need the full helmet’. “One of them was like you would use to ride a motorbike, but he couldn’t train with this because it was too heavy. Then we found the right one.” Glasner continued: “I didn’t talk with him [Mateta] about comfort. It was a discussion between him and the doctor. View Tweet: https://twitter.com/hashtag/CPFC?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw “He’s had this protection for the last 10 days, and he did well in training. He looks the same as he did before. “He needed to get back into his rhythm because he couldn’t really train for two weeks, with one week spent at home and the second training individually. “It’s lucky that nothing was fractured and there was no concussion. It was just the ear. “I know it was a terrible injury. Some players say that the ear looks better than before now.” He added: “Our medical team did a great job finding the right protection. There were three different ones he tried. “If I believe it’s a problem, I wouldn’t play him, but it looks like it isn’t a problem.” Mateta has been in some of the best form of his career and he will be hoping to continue in the same way on his return. The Frenchman has 12 goals in 25 starts in the Premier League, scoring seven in his last eight league appearances before his injury. Crystal Palace are going to be boosted by their frontman’s return and will feel confident heading into their FA Cup quarter-final. talkSPORT will have live coverage from Craven Cottage, with commentary coming from Sam Matterface and former Chelsea defender Scott Minto. To tune in to talkSPORT through the website, click HERE for the live stream. Listen via the talkSPORT app here, or on DAB digital radio, through your smart speaker and on 1089 or 1053 AM.
Jean-Philippe Mateta is back from his horror injury, but he’s now having to wear some unique protective headgear.
Mateta was given oxygen and taken to hospital following a huge collision with Millwall goalkeeper Liam Roberts earlier this month.
The Crystal Palace striker received 25 stitches around his ear after the terrifying clash that led to some controversy.
Fortunately, he managed to recover well and now he’s set to make a comeback in the FA Cup quarter-finals.
He will be featuring for Palace in their clash against Fulham, live on talkSPORT, but he’ll have extra protection on…
What headgear is Mateta wearing?
Mateta is wearing a water polo-style helmet with a change that sees only his affected ear covered.
The headgear is similar to that of ex-Chelsea goalkeeper Petr Cech, who wore the covering after fracturing his skull in 2006.
Crystal Palace manager Oliver Glasner referenced Cech when discussing with staff about a solution for Mateta.
He explained in his pre-Fulham press conference on Friday: “It’s like a water polo helmet, but with one ear.
“I said to the doctor I remember Petr Cech wearing a helmet and he said, ‘Yeah but the ear was free (uncovered), so we need the full helmet’.
“One of them was like you would use to ride a motorbike, but he couldn’t train with this because it was too heavy. Then we found the right one.”
Glasner continued: “I didn’t talk with him [Mateta] about comfort. It was a discussion between him and the doctor.
“He’s had this protection for the last 10 days, and he did well in training. He looks the same as he did before.
“He needed to get back into his rhythm because he couldn’t really train for two weeks, with one week spent at home and the second training individually.
“It’s lucky that nothing was fractured and there was no concussion. It was just the ear.
“I know it was a terrible injury. Some players say that the ear looks better than before now.”
He added: “Our medical team did a great job finding the right protection. There were three different ones he tried.
“If I believe it’s a problem, I wouldn’t play him, but it looks like it isn’t a problem.”
Mateta has been in some of the best form of his career and he will be hoping to continue in the same way on his return.
The Frenchman has 12 goals in 25 starts in the Premier League, scoring seven in his last eight league appearances before his injury.
Crystal Palace are going to be boosted by their frontman’s return and will feel confident heading into their FA Cup quarter-final.
talkSPORT will have live coverage from Craven Cottage, with commentary coming from Sam Matterface and former Chelsea defender Scott Minto.
To tune in to talkSPORT through the website, click HERE for the live stream.
Listen via the talkSPORT app here, or on DAB digital radio, through your smart speaker and on 1089 or 1053 AM.
