- Crystal Palace star Adam Wharton has not started a league game since October
- But he has made three sub appearances since surgery on a hip and groin injury
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Crystal Palace boss Oliver Glasner won’t take any risks with Adam Wharton as the midfielder eases his way back into action.
Wharton, 21, was a revelation at Selhurst Park after joining last February, taking to life in the Premier League seamlessly following his £22.5million move from Championship side Blackburn.
So impressive was Wharton’s form that he forced his name into former England boss Gareth Southgate’s plans ahead of the Euros, making his debut against Bosnia and Herzegovina last June before being named in his final squad for last summer’s tournament in Germany.
Wharton reported back from Three Lions duty with injury and was able to play through the pain until October, when the pain in his hip and groin became unmanageable and required surgery.
After making another appearance off the bench in Palace’s impressive 2-0 win over Fulham on Saturday, the expectation is that Wharton will soon be ready to feature from the off. Glasner, though, urged caution.
He said: ‘I think this is the first time he is fit now since the final of the Euros, since July (2024). Now it’s important to manage the minutes in the best way.
Oliver Glasner pictured (right) embracing Adam Wharton after Crystal Palace beat Fulham 2-0
England international midfielder Wharton came on as an 81st-minute substitute on Saturday
‘For a player this frustrates you and it frustrated him a lot. It was a case of hope that, (by) taking the surgery, everything would be fine and it wasn’t.
‘It took him almost four months after the surgery and the prognosis was three to five weeks and that’s frustrating again. The shape where he is now is a credit to him.’
Glasner also handed Wharton’s Palace and England team-mate Eberechi Eze a first start for nearly a month at Craven Cottage.
Like Wharton, Eze has battled with niggling injuries this season, but his manager hopes those fitness struggles will soon be a thing of the past.
‘It’s good to have him back. I still think he’s not 100 per cent fit, you can see it sometimes. At half-time he needs treatment but it’s getting better and better and of course we know he can help us with his dribbling,’ explained Glasner.
‘I know him now for one year and I know he has a lot of potential. If he shows this potential than he has the potential to be a starter for England.
‘But also in the last weeks and months he’s struggled with some injuries, so now it’s supporting him to get him back into his best shape.’
