Mateta breaks silence after being rushed to hospital following horror tackle

Jean-Philippe Mateta has reassured fans that he is okay after a horror challenge saw the Crystal Palace star hospitalised.

The Frenchman lasted just eight minutes of his side's FA Cup clash with Millwall on Saturday. As he attempted to chase down a pass, he was clattered by Lions goalkeeper Liam Roberts, who had rushed out of his goal and produced a head-high challenge.

Mateta received treatment and oxygen on the pitch before being stretchered off. He was then transported to hospital for further monitoring and has now spoken out.

Taking to Instagram, he wrote: "Thank you all for your kind messages. I'm doing well. I hope to be back very soon. And stronger than ever. Well done guys for the great job today. I love you. JP, alongside red and white, as well as an eagle emoji.

The post comes after Palace boss Oliver Glasner had offered an update on the French forward, while slamming Millwall star Roberts for his part in the sickening incident. Speaking after his side’s 3-1 win, he said: "He is conscious and he is in hospital. His ear looks terrible. It's a very serious injury so we hope all the best for him. We are not really happy, we can't be really happy.

"Of course, it's a great win and into the quarter-finals but when you lose a player, especially with a foul like this, you have two different feelings in your stomach.

"Honestly, I didn't want to see it, I just watched it and it is terrible. I'm sure the goalkeeper didn't want to injure JP in this situation, no player wants this. But if you got to the ball with this with this intensity, with the foot at that height, you can't do it because it's so dangerous and we all have responsibilities for our health. I don't want to blame him but it is a terrible foul."

"I didn't see it like it was in the game, it was so quick, I could see the keeper had a lot of intensity, but he touched the ball first. But I could see it now in slow motion and it's worse."

Meanwhile, Palace chairman Steve Parish was left furious by Roberts' tackle, calling it the "worst" challenge he had ever seen on a pitch, while claiming the forward could have been killed. The Millwall man was eventually sent off for his challenge following a VAR review.