The Absence Explained: Daniel Munoz's Injury Keeps him Out of Palace's Clash with Fulham
Crystal Palace manager Oliver Glasner has revealed the reason behind Daniel Munoz's absence in the recent game against Fulham, shedding light on how the injury impacted team selection.
Crystal Palace boss Oliver Glasner has confirmed the reason Daniel Munoz sat out Sunday's trip to Fulham. Munoz missed out on the Premier League clash at Craven Cottage as the Eagles look to follow up their 1-0 win Burnley in midweek. The Colombian scored the winning goal at Turf Moor on Wednesday night but wasn't part of the matchday squad in west London at the weekend.Munoz wasn't part of the Palace matchday squad on Sunday afternoon, with the experienced Nathaniel Clyne instead called upon at right wing-back in Glasner's favoured three-man setup. The Colombian wasn't the only first team regular to miss out on a spot in the starting XI at Fulham, with Will Hughes also starting from the bench as Eddie Nketiah came in for a rare start.Nketiah scored his second league goal of the season on his first start as he featured alongside Yeremy Pino behind Jean-Philippe Mateta in attack. However, it was Munoz's absence that raised eyebrows after the 29-year-old hadn't missed a single minute of game time prior to Sunday's London derby.And prior to the weekend game at Fulham, Glasner confirmed the reason behind Munoz's absence in west London, which was due to a knee injury.When asked by Munoz wasn't included in the matchday squad by Sky Sports, Glasner replied: "His knee. I said to Danny 'sorry, mate, I have to rest you' and that's why he can't play. He knee is a little bit swollen. Of course, we never take any risk, and that's why he misses today's game. We are hopeful that he can return to face City next Sunday."And on Clyne's first league start of the season, Glasner said: "Clyne has not played many minutes, but he's always available and he knows what to do in this position. We know that we can always rely on Clyne."He's not that attacking player like Danny, but he's very reliable, so that's why he starts. Then we know maybe we are missing a very attacking wing-back, so we're getting a second striker on the pitch, in [Eddie] Nketiah, who has proven that he can score goals."Looking for smarter football bets? Get expert previews, data-driven predictions & winning insights with GOAL Tips on Telegram. Join our growing community now!Munoz has established himself as one of the best attacking full-backs in the Premier League following his arrival from Genk last January, and has become a mainstay in the Eagles starting XI. The Colombia international has scored three goals and provided two assists for the south London side in the Premier League this season as Glasner looks to mastermind a top-half finish.And Glasner had praised Munoz ahead of Palace's game at Fulham, telling the club's official website over the weekend: "I think it's unfair to compare him with right-backs because when you play a back four, as a right-back, you have to be a little bit more cautious. He’s, let's say, a mix between a right-back and a right winger, and that's why we're also playing this system because we know his attacking style and we know that he's very dangerous. Even before he came to Palace, I think he scored five goals in the Belgium league in six months and that's just his nature."Of course his physicality, his runs, always being there and having this feeling in the box, at the far post, this is something special. You can't always have your right-back in the opposite box, but in our system we can, and that's one of the reasons why we play a back three. For us, Dani is a very important player. if you don't score many goals, and your right wing-back has now four… at the moment, after losing Ismaïla [Sarr, to injury] he's one of our few players who makes runs in behind without the ball, and that helps us."After Sunday's game at Fulham, Palace are next in action against Shelbourne in the UEFA Conference League on Thursday night as they look to bounce back from their 2-1 loss to Strasbourg last month.And Palace follow up their midweek European tie with the welcome of Premier League title contenders Manchester City. The Cityzens closed the gap on league leaders Arsenal to two points as they claimed a 3-0 win over Sunderland on Saturday afternoon.
Daniel Munoz's Absence
Crystal Palace right-back, Daniel Munoz, was notably missing from the matchday squad against Fulham, with manager Oliver Glasner citing a knee injury as the reason for his absence. Despite his impressive form this season, Munoz had to be rested due to a swollen knee, with Glasner emphasizing the importance of player safety and not taking unnecessary risks with his fitness.
Nathaniel Clyne Steps Up
In Munoz's absence, experienced campaigner Nathaniel Clyne stepped into the right wing-back position. Though not as attacking minded as Munoz, Glasner commended Clyne for his reliability and valuable contribution to the team. Clyne's versatility and defensive solidity were highlighted as key reasons for his inclusion in the starting lineup.
Eddie Nketiah's Impact
With Munoz sidelined, forward Eddie Nketiah seized the opportunity for a rare start and scored his second league goal of the season. Partnering with Yeremy Pino behind Jean-Philippe Mateta, Nketiah added a goal-scoring threat to the lineup. Glasner praised Nketiah's ability to find the back of the net and provide an alternative attacking option.
Munoz's Importance to Palace
Having established himself as a key player for Crystal Palace, Daniel Munoz's absence was felt in the clash against Fulham. Known for his attacking prowess from the right-back position, Munoz's runs and goal-scoring ability have added a new dimension to the team's play. Glasner highlighted Munoz's impact and emphasized his importance to the side's tactics and attacking threat.
Upcoming Fixtures
Following the Fulham game, Crystal Palace face Shelbourne in the UEFA Conference League before hosting Manchester City in the Premier League. With key players like Munoz expected to return from injury, Glasner will be aiming to guide the team to success in both domestic and European competitions. The clash against City promises to be a challenging test for Palace as they look to secure a positive result against top-tier opposition.






