Crystal Palace manager Pierre Sage has made clear that summer signings Dwight McNeil and Evann Guessand will need to lift their performances before winning back a regular place in his side, after both were omitted from the matchday squad for the Eagles' 3-2 win at Fulham.
The decision to leave out McNeil and Guessand stemmed from Sage's frustration with the pair's contributions as substitutes in the previous match, a 4-1 home defeat to Manchester City. Rather than including them at Craven Cottage, the Frenchman opted for alternatives, and the gamble paid off as goals from Tyrick Mitchell, who scored twice, and a late strike from Ben Chilwell sealed a first Premier League victory for Sage since taking charge of the club.
Speaking after the match, Sage acknowledged that McNeil and Guessand were not pleased with being left out, but stressed that the move was purely tactical rather than punitive in any lasting sense. He also left the door open for both players to return to the fold when Palace face Championship side Middlesbrough in the Carabao Cup third round on Tuesday.
"It's my decision, a sports decision, and sometimes players have to be shaken to come back and regain their level," Sage said. "At the end, it's only one game. With a few games, everybody is excited with the situation – what's happened? Is there a problem? Or something like this."
The head coach added that the two attackers simply need to respond to his feedback and use upcoming opportunities to prove themselves. "It's like this: they just have to take the information, to change things during the session, because they have the opportunity to show every week, and maybe they will come back with us on Tuesday," he explained.
Ahead of the midweek cup clash, Sage will also need to assess the fitness of his squad, with several players left fatigued following the intensity of the London derby victory over Fulham. Managing that physical toll will be a key factor as Palace look to progress in a competition where they have enjoyed considerable recent success.
The south London club have built a strong reputation in knockout football over the past two seasons, capturing the FA Cup in 2025 before adding the Community Shield and the Conference League title last term. Sage will be eager to continue that cup pedigree by guiding Palace past Middlesbrough and into the last 16 of the Carabao Cup.
However, the task will not be straightforward. Middlesbrough currently sit second in the Championship standings, having collected 10 points from their opening five league fixtures this season. That run leaves them just one point adrift of early leaders Swansea, underlining the quality of opposition Palace will face at Selhurst Park.
For Palace themselves, the win at Fulham offered a timely boost. The result lifted the Eagles up to 13th place in the Premier League table, ending a difficult opening stretch that had included defeats to both Everton and Manchester City. With their first league win of the campaign now secured, Sage's side will be hoping to carry that momentum into the cup tie and build a sense of consistency going forward.
Whether McNeil and Guessand feature against Middlesbrough remains to be seen, but Sage's comments suggest the door remains open for both to reclaim their places provided they show the required response in training.
Based on reporting from The Independent.