Crystal Palace are waiting for medical clarity on Daniel Muñoz after the right-back suffered a shoulder injury while representing Colombia.
The concern emerged after comments from Colombian journalist Carlos Antonio Vélez on Deportes RCN, where he discussed the early signs surrounding the issue.
Muñoz was forced off shortly after the start of the match following an awkward fall. According to Vélez, the incident happened very early in the game.
“In the seventh minute he falls badly and lands on his shoulder. By the 14th minute he thinks he can continue, until the body tells him: ‘No, you cannot continue’. As simple as that. And he had to leave in the 14th minute”, he said.
The full diagnosis is still pending. However, Vélez explained that there are currently three possible scenarios being considered regarding the shoulder problem.
“There are three possibilities for that shoulder injury: a contusion, a dislocation, or a ligament issue,” he explained. “The last would be the most serious, the middle one the dislocation, and the contusion is simply a blow.”
The 28-year-old has been a key figure both for Palace and the Colombian national team since arriving in the Premier League.
Injury scenarios and recovery timeline
Initial estimates suggest the recovery timeline could vary significantly depending on the final diagnosis.
“They talk about up to four weeks in a medium condition,” Vélez said, while also stressing that tests are still ongoing. “I hope the ligament issue does not exist, because that would already… well, I won’t even mention it.”
For now, Muñoz is reportedly wearing a sling while awaiting the results of further examinations. But he has just recovered from a serious knee injury.
What the Colombian media are saying
Vélez also commented on the common tendency for players to believe they can play through injuries, warning that optimism from the player should not be taken as medical confirmation.
“Players always want to play,” he said. “There are phrases like ‘the best doctor is the patient’. No. The best doctor is the doctor, not the patient. The patient always wants to be healthy and normal. When something happens, he says: ‘No, I have nothing, I’m fine, I feel very well’.”
For Crystal Palace, the hope will be that the situation proves to be the mildest of the three possibilities. Vélez himself highlighted how important the defender has become for his country.
“First we have to wait,” he concluded. “And afterwards, hopefully the best diagnosis possible, because he is a very important player for Colombia.”
What this means for Crystal Palace
For Crystal Palace, the coming days will bring clarity. Muñoz has become a crucial piece in Oliver Glasner’s system thanks to his pace, physicality and ability to contribute in both phases.
A short absence of a few weeks would be manageable. However, a ligament injury could create a much more complicated situation for the London club at a delicate point in the season.
For now, Palace must simply wait for the medical tests to confirm the extent of the problem.
