Pierre Sage is considering changes to his Crystal Palace side for Tuesday night’s Carabao Cup third-round tie against Middlesbrough, although the manager has yet to settle on the extent of any rotation.
Speaking after Saturday’s victory over Fulham, Sage said he would first assess how his players had recovered from a demanding match. Palace have depth across their squad, and the manager suggested that those who have had fewer opportunities could be involved if freshness is required.
Sage also made clear that rotation would not be the sole priority. He has previously been unhappy when making too many changes at once, particularly when a lack of understanding between players affected the team’s performance. Palace remain determined to progress in the competition, with winning the match the central aim.
Dwight McNeil and Evann Guessand were left out of the squad at Fulham after Sage was dissatisfied with their displays as substitutes against Manchester City. The manager described the decision as a sporting one and said both players could have the chance to return against Middlesbrough after responding during training.
There was more positive news for Cheick Doucouré, who was included in a Premier League squad for the first time since January 2025 after recovering from surgery. Sage said the midfielder was delighted to be back with the group and confirmed that Doucouré will play some part on Tuesday as he begins his return to action.
