Crystal Palace have removed Super Eagles attacking midfielder Christantus Uche from their UEFA Conference League squad following adjustments to their registered list ahead of the next phase of the competition.
The decision was taken to create space for January signings Brennan Johnson, Jørgen Strand Larsen and Evann Guessand, all of whom have now been registered for the remainder of the European campaign in line with tournament regulations.
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Palace progressed to the knockout round of the UEFA Europa Conference League, but were restricted to naming a 24-man squad due to having only three club-trained players.
This limitation left head coach Oliver Glasner with few options when finalising his list.
According to reports, Uche was the casualty of the reshuffle after the arrivals of Strand Larsen, Guessand and Johnson during the January transfer window.
The 22-year-old has found regular playing time hard to come by at Selhurst Park this season.
While he has featured more prominently in Europe, registering 174 minutes across four Conference League appearances, his Premier League involvement has been limited to 155 minutes from 12 substitute outings.
Uche, who joined Palace on a season-long loan from Spanish side Getafe last summer, has started just three matches in all competitions.
Despite this, he enjoyed a memorable moment in December when he won the club’s Goal of the Month award for his outside-of-the-boot strike against KuPS Kuopio.
His loan agreement reportedly includes an obligation-to-buy clause that will only be activated if he starts ten matches this season — a target that currently appears unlikely.
However, Uche’s prospects at the club could yet change, with Glasner expected to leave at the end of the campaign, potentially opening the door for a fresh assessment under a new manager.
