Jean-Philippe Mateta will not be in it Crystal Palace Team for tomorrow’s crunch game on Nottingham Forest Because he is “not in the right place” mentally.

The France striker has expressed his desire to leave Selhurst Park ahead of Monday’s transfer deadline with AC Milan reported to be interested.

Mateta is Palace’s top scorer this season with 10 goals in all competitions but has not netted since New Year’s Day, when Glasner announced he would leave in the summer and former captain Marc Gueye joined Manchester City.

Speaking ahead of the trip to the City Ground, Glasner said: “I can confirm that JP won’t be in the matchday squad, but nothing to do with the transfer at the moment. He’s not in the right place.

“There’s no point playing. We have to protect the team and I have to protect him. That’s why he won’t be going to Nottingham with us.

“There is a lot of noise, a lot of speculation, a lot of things going on. We need every single player to be at their best and JP is not at his best right now with all the noise.

“It may be the noise of football, but if someone has private issues where he can’t focus on football, there’s no point playing him. He can’t help the team and perform at his peak. We decided it’s better not to play him.”

Palace working hard on transfer – Glassner

Palace have made moves to replace Mateta, assuming he leaves with Wolves forward Jørgen Strand Larsson on their radar, although a deal has yet to be agreed.

“The club now operates almost 24 hours a day,” Glassner added.

“Mark (Guehi) left two weeks ago and there is no one in. You can imagine it’s not that easy – every team wants to have a successful season, so it’s not that easy that you can get players at the end of January. I see that the club is working hard to get players to replace Mark and of course, if something happens with JP we have to prepare.

“Again, to clarify, it could be that JP stays, and he is a Palace player on February 2, and it could be that JP leaves the club and a new striker comes in.

“These are two situations that we are talking about and discussing right now.”

If you stay calm, you will be inspired

If a move for Mateta does not materialize, Glassner has no worries about player appetite with the World Cup on the horizon.

“I know JP will be very motivated if he stays because he has a big dream to play for France at the World Cup,” he said.

“So, he needs to perform, and he needs to play better than what he has played in the last few weeks. He knows that.

“Right now, it’s difficult, but I’m sure that on February 2, when the window closes, everyone’s goal is the same for a successful season. A personal goal for every player, they want to play for their country in the World Cup.

“That’s why I can still sleep so well.”

Palace are on a poor run and have not won in the league since December 7. Defeat tomorrow would see Forest pull level with them on 28 points.