Crystal Palace boss Pierre Sage has confirmed Jean-Philippe Mateta could be sidelined for at least four weeks after suffering a muscular injury ahead of his side's 4-1 defeat to Manchester City.
Mateta was injured during individual work at the end of a training session two days before the Premier League clash and was therefore unavailable for Palace.
"It's a crazy thing. We lose him for, at least, maybe four weeks," Sage said.
"It's a muscular issue."
Sage was also asked whether he hoped Palace would make further additions before the transfer deadline, but insisted he would not use the squad's current situation as an excuse following the heavy defeat.
"I don't want to find excuses. It's the same for everybody," he said.
"We have to deal with that and we know that. Some players came and we're happy with them.
"Now we have to be sure that in four days, the team will be better than today."
Sage also explained his decision to leave Daniel Munoz on the bench throughout the defeat, insisting the decision was purely based on sporting reasons.
"It's a sporting decision. My decision," he said.
