Reports indicate that a Nigerian international midfielder was excluded from his club’s lineup this past weekend due to a delayed return from national team duties.
Christantus Uche, a midfielder for the Super Eagles, was omitted from Crystal Palace‘s squad during their recent Premier League loss to Bournemouth. Sources suggest this decision stemmed from his late arrival back from international commitments.
Details of the Situation
Uche was added to Eric Chelle‘s roster for the latest international window at the last minute, stepping in for the injured Cyriel Dessers.
Despite being part of the squad, the former Getafe player did not see any game time in the fixtures against Lesotho and Benin, remaining on the bench throughout both matches.
When the Premier League resumed, Uche was completely left out of Crystal Palace’s matchday squad. According to We Are Palace, this exclusion was linked to his delayed return from international duty.
It remains uncertain whether this omission was a disciplinary measure or a precaution due to fitness concerns, possibly because his late arrival limited his participation in pre-match training sessions.
Uche’s Journey with Crystal Palace
Uche secured a move to Crystal Palace from Getafe during the summer transfer window, agreeing to a one-year loan deal. The transfer was reportedly valued at around €20-22 million, structured as a loan with an obligation to buy.
Since joining, the 22-year-old midfielder/forward has been gradually integrated into Oliver Glasner’s squad. To date, he has made just two brief substitute appearances in the Premier League, totaling 25 minutes on the pitch. Additionally, he featured as a halftime substitute in Palace’s EFL Cup win over Millwall.