This is an updated Sarr Crystal Palace injury update, refreshed on 24 September 2026 ahead of Thursday’s Europa League opener. Palace host Polish champions Lech Poznań at Selhurst Park at 20:00 BST, and manager Pierre Sage has given supporters fresh clarity on his squad.
Latest update on Palace squad news ahead of European return
Palace’s first group match in the competition brings welcome team news. Sage confirmed this week that Ismaïla Sarr and Eddie Nketiah are back in training and could be involved against Lech Poznań.
Not every absentee is close to a return, though. Jean-Philippe Mateta has been out since the opening day of the season, and goalkeeper Dean Henderson also remains sidelined.
Double boost for Sage as forward duo return to training
Sarr and Nketiah trained with the first team this week, and Sage sounded encouraged by what he saw.
He could be in the team tomorrow, as [could] Eddie Nketiah, because they started to train with us this week, and they are in shape.
Sarr was Palace’s top scorer last season, but he missed the start of this campaign through injury. Nketiah started the club’s first three games before missing last week’s action. Having both back in training gives Sage genuine attacking options, even if neither is confirmed to start.
Henderson contract extension brings long-term security amid injury
Away from Thursday’s team news, Palace fans received a separate boost this week. Dean Henderson has signed a contract extension that keeps him at Selhurst Park until 2030, despite currently being out injured.
We are really happy for us, we are really happy for him – it’s a long-term contract for our captain. For the moment he is injured, but he showed us during his first games that he’s really important for the team and we hope he’ll come back quickly, because he’s really important in the dressing room too. That’s why this kind of news is good news for us.
Sage also praised the goalkeeper’s character and leadership within the squad.
As a player, he’s a really good goalkeeper, and as a man he has good leadership, he’s positive, and he’s always with his teammates, that’s why it’s really important to have him. But we have to consider him with the other goalkeepers too, because they do a good job altogether. If Dean’s level is high, it’s because his teammates’ is too.
For more on Henderson’s deal and the rest of the squad, see our Palace squad status and contract details.
Ismaïla Sarr injury update: Will he play against Lech Poznań?
The direct answer to this Sarr Crystal Palace injury update is that he is available for selection. Sage says the winger has returned to full training and could feature in the matchday squad on Thursday.
There is no confirmation that Sarr will start, and Sage has stopped short of guaranteeing his involvement from the first whistle. What is clear is that the injury which kept him out at the start of the season is no longer holding him back in training, which is a significant lift for Palace given his goal contributions last season.
What happens next for Crystal Palace
Sage was more cautious when asked about Mateta and Henderson, both of whom face longer spells on the sidelines.
I hope it will be after the international break. With long injuries, there’s more or less days. That’s why we hope and we will see.
That timeline is not fixed, and Sage was clear he could only offer hope rather than a date. In the meantime, Palace fans can follow recent team news and analysis for wider context on the squad’s form, while our original report on the squad boost carries the full background to this story.
