Crystal Palace head coach Pierre Sage has confirmed that Ismaila Sarr is available to start against Nottingham Forest at Selhurst Park on Sunday, with kick-off scheduled for 14:00 BST. The winger has made only an eight-minute appearance for Palace this season, but Sage believes his latest training session marked a significant step forward.
Sarr was Palace's leading scorer last season and attracted interest from Galatasaray and Liverpool during the transfer window. Sage also indicated that discussions over a new contract are progressing positively, although he made clear that the agreement has not yet been signed.
Jean-Philippe Mateta, Dean Henderson and Takehiro Tomiyasu will all miss the Forest match. Sage said Mateta has returned to team training after a lengthy absence and viewed that session as encouraging, but the forward is not yet ready to play. Palace expect Mateta, Henderson and Tomiyasu to be available for either the Lyon or Brighton fixture.
Ana Khalaili has recovered from the hamstring problem she suffered while on international duty and is ready to play the full match if selected. Her return gives Sage another attacking option for a fixture in which Palace and Forest are close in both the Premier League standings and their style of play.
The game will also see former Palace manager Oliver Glasner and defender Daniel Munoz return to Selhurst Park after leaving the club during the summer. Sage praised their contribution, noting the three titles achieved during Glasner's time at Palace, and said he hoped both would receive a positive reception. He expects the occasion to create a stronger atmosphere than usual and called on the home support to give the team an extra lift.
