'My ear was destroyed' - Crystal Palace star Jean-Philippe Mateta admits he feared brain bleed after horror challenge from Millwall's Liam Roberts

Mateta was stretchered off at Selhurst Park during Crystal Palace's 3-1 win over Millwall in the FA Cup fifth round after the French striker was caught by a reckless head-high tackle by the visitors' goalkeeper Roberts outside the box. The Eagles later confirmed that Mateta needed 25 stitches after suffering a "severe laceration" to his left ear. The Palace star has now opened up about the horror challenge, admitting he initially feared even more serious damage had been done.

Speaking to L’Equipe, the Palace star said: "I was afraid I’d have broken bones or blood in my brain but in fact, my ear was just destroyed. At the last moment, I had the reflex to turn my face. I was lucky because if I hadn’t, I would have taken his foot right in the head, and it would have been much worse."

Mateta also revealed that he has accepted Roberts' apology, with the Millwall 'keeper having been sent off for the challenge and handed a six-game ban by the FA. "I told him, ‘Don’t worry, it’s not that serious," he added. "He could have avoided doing that, but these things happen."

Mateta went on to praise the surgeon who worked on his ear before revealing he is set to return to the pitch wearing a protective mask. "A plastic surgery specialist came and took pictures of my ear, which he refused to show me, so as not to let them stay in my head," he said. "Obviously, it didn’t look like an ear anymore. At the beginning of the operation, the surgeon had a lot of trouble, but afterwards, as he explained to me, he found a way to save my ear. He did a hell of a job.

"I have to be careful to prevent it from getting infected, I have to wash it every time I sweat. Next week, I should be able to participate in training matches, but for that, I’ll need a mask while my ear finishes healing. I’ve been sent several models, and I’ll have to choose between those that just cover the ear and others that cover the whole face."

Oliver Glasner's Palace side will be back in action after the international break on March 29 as they take on Fulham in the FA Cup quarter-finals. Mateta, who is still recovering from the horror injury, could make his return to action in the London derby clash, according to the Independent.