Chris Richards injury update as Crystal Palace handed unexpected boost ahead of Brentford

Crystal Palace defender Chris Richards walked off unaided after the final whistle in the game against Nantes at Selhurst Park, but it remains to be seen if he will be fit for the game against Brentford next weekend.

The Eagles have just welcomed Eberechi Eze, Adam Wharton, Marc Guehi, and Dean Henderson back to training, but it’s unclear if they will be ready to play at full throttle against Brentford. As a result, the team will be hoping that Chris Richards' injury is nothing serious, as he has been pivotal in pre-season.

The game itself saw Cameroonian Jean-Charles Castelletto give Nantes the lead before Jordan Ayew’s perfect pull-back cross found Daichi Kamada for the equalizer in the 60th minute, denying the visitors a win and giving Palace a deserved draw ahead of the Premier League opener.

Palace manager will be pleased with the draw, as well as the news that lead striker Jean-Philippe Mateta will cut short his holiday and join the team before the game against Brentford.

Mateta was unbelievable last season and has been linked to clubs abroad, but the South London Press is reporting that the French striker will return to South London this week, just six days after helping France finish second in the Olympics men's football competition.

Mateta won Palace’s Player of the Season last year, scoring 19 goals and picking up five assists. He scored 13 times in 13 games under Oliver Glasner and also recorded his first Premier League hat-trick.

Last season, the Eagles ended the campaign on fire, and they will be hoping that the loss of Michael Olise and transfer talks linking Guehi and Eze with moves away will not distract the team.