Crystal Palace manager Pierre Sage says he is still unsure whether Dean Henderson will be available for Sunday's Premier League meeting with Brighton at the Amex Stadium, with a decision expected after training on Friday.
Jean-Philippe Mateta, Ben Chilwell and Takehiro Tomiyasu could also come into contention, although Sage was unwilling to confirm their returns. He said the club is hopeful but must wait before knowing whether any of the trio will be involved.
Sage also reflected on Thursday's Europa League loss to Lyon, saying Palace's poor first-half display allowed their opponents to take control. He was encouraged by the response after the interval but felt the improvement came too late to change the outcome.
Sunday's fixture carries particular importance for Palace supporters because of the rivalry with Brighton. Sage acknowledged the significance of the contest and said the team must reproduce the stronger periods shown in the second halves of their last two matches. He added that he had been briefed about the rivalry when he first arrived and had recently read more about it to understand its background.
Asked about Palace being excluded from Brighton's so-called 'Bermuda triangle' with Brentford and Bournemouth, Sage said the club should remain confident in its board and recruitment strategy. He pointed to that approach as part of Palace's identity and noted that it has previously delivered titles for the club.
Sage also compared the Premier League with Ligue 1, describing England's overall standard as higher and stressing that every match presents a difficult challenge.
