Crystal Palace’s Carabao Cup triumph over Aston Villa has been tempered by injury concerns surrounding key duo Eberechi Eze and Adam Wharton.

The Eagles secured a 2-1 victory at Villa Park to book their place in the quarter-finals, but the win came at a cost as Eze and Wharton were forced off with hamstring and groin issues respectively.
Eze, who opened the scoring after just 18 minutes, was visibly distressed as he signalled to the bench, indicating his inability to continue. The extent of the damage remains unclear, but manager Oliver Glasner admitted his concern.

“Ebs is too early to assess, but he wanted to come off, which isn’t a positive sign,” Glasner said. “I hope it’s not too serious, but I don’t know.”
Wharton, meanwhile, had been carrying a groin problem into the match and Glasner acknowledged the youngster’s ongoing struggles.
“Adam’s issue is nothing new; he’s had this groin problem for months,” Glasner explained. “We thought he needed a break today, but he gave me the thumbs up yesterday that he was fine. We managed it well against Tottenham, so we wanted to keep most of the team intact.”

The injuries cast a shadow over Palace’s impressive victory, which followed their first Premier League win of the season against Tottenham. Glasner’s side now travels to Wolves on Saturday seeking a third consecutive win.
However, the German boss will be without Chadi Riad, Matheus França, and Chris Richards, while Jefferson Lerma remains a doubt. The additional absence of Eze and Wharton would deal a significant blow to Glasner’s plans, particularly with the busy winter period looming.
Glasner will be eager to assess the severity of the injuries in the coming days, with the trip to Wolves just around the corner. Palace’s momentum has been building, and the manager will not want to lose key players at such a crucial juncture.
Palace’s victory over Villa was a testament to the team’s resilience, but the injury concerns have introduced an element of uncertainty. Glasner’s ability to navigate these challenges will be crucial in determining the Eagles’ trajectory this season.
The Palace faithful will be holding their breath as they await updates on Eze and Wharton’s fitness. With the quarter-final tie against Arsenal on the horizon, Glasner will be desperate to have his key players available.
Injury Update:
- Eberechi Eze (hamstring): uncertain
- Adam Wharton (groin): uncertain
- Chadi Riad (unspecified): out
- Matheus França (unspecified): out
- Chris Richards (unspecified): out
- Jefferson Lerma (unspecified): doubtful