Crystal Palace midfielder Adam Wharton will miss a period of the season to undergo groin surgery if his pain increases.
The 20-year-old has been carrying the persistent injury since Euro 2024 with England, and has been taking painkillers to get through Palace matches for the first two months of the season.
Wharton dropped out of the England Under-21 squads in both September and October to manage the injury, and Palace medical staff are monitoring his situation on a daily basis.
Palace manager Oliver Glasner spent some of the October international break considering a suitable period of time in the season when Wharton could undergo surgery, but was unable to find a spell for which he would be happy to lose the ex-Blackburn man.
Speaking in further detail about Wharton’s injury, Glasner said: “Believe me, we’re discussing it often. Not every day, but during the international break. It is a decision we will take together.
“We are talking with him and, if we have to do it, finding the right moment. Or, [on] the other side, his body will tell us. If the pain gets worse, then we have to do it.
“At the moment, it’s okay. He can do all the training sessions. Pain: some days more, some days less. He is the first guy [into the training ground] in the morning, together with Marc [Guehi]. He is here at 8:30 in the morning and leaving very late, [after] a lot of treatment.
“We need him, he knows this, and he is here for the team. We hope it gets better, but, to be honest, it doesn’t look like that [will happen].”
Palace are winless in the Premier League this season ahead of Monday night’s visit to Nottingham Forest, and Glasner admitted his key stars from last season - Eberechi Eze, Jean-Philippe Mateta and Wharton - have been off the pace this term.
Eze, Wharton and Mateta had elongated campaigns last season after being involved in summer international tournaments for the first time in their respective careers. Eze and Wharton both went to Euro 2024 with England, while Mateta represented France at the Paris Olympic Games.
Asked whether their shortened breaks this summer had impacted the trio, Glasner said: “Yes, especially [because] it’s the first time for them. If you are used to playing this rhythm — like [Lionel] Messi because he has scored many goals now and he’s 37 — maybe you get used to it.
“But for them, it was their career highlight until now. We are always looking for days [off] we can give them. This is also part of their personal development. If you want to play for your national team, this is the schedule.”
Glasner added: “We will help them to get into the best shape again. We trust in every single player who is here. We believe in every single one, and his talent and his character.
“I was asked many times last season what I had done with JP [Mateta] that made him score. Nothing. He just had the confidence then. This time, it’s the opposite way. They are human — young men.”
