What is Jean-Philippe Mateta wearing on his head?

JEAN-PHILIPPE MATETA will be determined to lead Crystal Palace to FA Cup success this season – and he’ll be sporting a new look in the process.

The French star had a tough start to his career at the Eagles, often being benched for Odsonne Edouard and Jordan Ayew.

But four years later, the handful striker has made himself Oliver Glasner’s main focal point and this was rubber stamped by his sensational midweek strike against Arsenal last Wednesday.

However, Mateta suffered a slight setback in his progression to becoming Palace’s main man and as a result, the French forward now has to wear something on his head for the foreseeable.

SunSport can explain why below.

What is Jean Philippe-Mateta wearing on his head?

Jean Philippe-Mateta is wearing a water polo-style helmet to protect his ear following a recent horror incident.

The Crystal Palace striker was taken to hospital after being on the receiving end of a sickening tackle in the last round of the FA Cup against Millwall.

Millwall keeper Liam Roberts karate-kicked Mateta and was handed a SIX-match ban for what Palace chairman Steve Parish described as ‘the most reckless challenge he’s ever seen’.

Mateta required 25 stitches in his ear and was missed several games for the Eagles.

On his return to action Mateta wore a water polo-style helmet to protect his ear and helped Palace to a 3-0 win at Craven Cottage.

There was serious planning to put into the helmet’s design, with three versions considered.

What has been said?

Mateta first wore the helmet in a behind-closed-doors friendly, with Eagles boss Oliver Glasner joking afterwards that the helmet was better suited to water polo.

He said: “It’s like a water polo helmet. In water polo it’s so they don’t get water into their ears, he has it just on one side. It sounds crazy, but we are used to it.

“I said to him maybe you should try [water polo] because he’s tall enough.

“It looks a bit strange but he says he feels comfortable so let’s see.

“When he scores a header, then it was the right mask and the right protection.

“Our doctor and the team did a great job finding the right protection. Everything is approved by the FA.

“There were three different ones. He tried one like you use to ride a motorbike but he couldn’t train with this because it was too heavy.

“I said to the doctor I remember Petr Cech wearing a helmet but the ear was free so we needed the full helmet. Then we found the right one.

“He tried in training which one fits him best and doesn’t influence him in the wrong way.

“If I believed it was a problem, I wouldn’t play him but it looks like it isn’t a problem.

“The last 10 days he’s had this protection and he did well in training so I didn’t find a reason to talk about this.”

Fans will get to see Mateta’s protective head gear when the Eagles take on Aston Villa in a huge FA Cup semi-final.

When is Crystal Palace’s FA Cup semi-final against Aston Villa?

• Crystal Palace vs Aston Villa will take place on Saturday, April 26.
• The huge FA Cup semi-final encounter gets underway from 5:15pm BST.
• Fans in the UK can watch it for free on BBC One or stream it live on BBC iPlayer.
• Alternatively, you can keep up with the entire action through our live blog.