Jean Philippe-Mateta wore a huge bandage on his left ear in a heartfelt interview with Sky Sports as he opened up on his horrific injury and surgery.

The Crystal Palace striker says he didn't feel any pain when Millwall goalkeeper Liam Roberts kicked him in the head earlier this month - and even wanted to carry on playing.

'I feel great. I feel very good and can't wait to come back. I remember everything - the kick, when I was on the floor. It was not like concussion,' Mateta told Sky Sports.

'Will (Hughes) gave me a long ball, I pushed the defender, and I turned my head to see where the 'keeper was, and as soon as I turned my head I saw something black coming to my head.

'I just moved my head and took everything (on my ear). I saw something coming and I just moved, reflex. This saved me.

'When he kicked me, I was on the floor, waiting for him to get the red card, and I (felt I was) good to go.

'But the doc saw the injury, me I didn't see it. I put the blood off and (wanted to) keep going, and the doc was like, "listen to me, you have to go."

'I was arguing for maybe 30 seconds, (saying) "I want to play," and he was like, "no, you have to go."

(Could you feel the pain or blood?) 'Not the pain, the blood for sure. But I was thinking it was a little cut. But no, it was not painful.

(On plastic surgeon): 'I think he's used to it, but when he saw my injury, he didn't know how he would start! He didn't know, but he did very well.

The Frenchman was hospitalised and required 26 stitches after being kicked in the head by goalkeeper Liam Roberts in the FA Cup. Mateta has admitted the plastic surgeon 'did a hell of a job' in order to save his ear, which 'didn’t look like an ear any more'

'Everything was open, cut here, cut open, behind was worse, cut everywhere. It was crazy.

'He (Roberts) contacted me, I was in hospital. I told him, "it's ok, it's football," and we'll see. he apologised and he was worried, but he did what he did, you know?'

Mateta has returned to Crystal Palace training sessions and could make an appearance after the international break.

The 27-year-old appeared with a black headband with a plaster below the ear and will wear a mask in his next game

'Next week, I should be able to participate in training matches, but for that, I’ll need a mask while my ear finishes healing.

'I’ve been sent several models, and I’ll have to choose between those that just cover the ear and others that cover the whole face.'