Key Points
- Double Fitness Boost: Anan Khalaili and Ismaïla Sarr have both been cleared for selection ahead of Crystal Palace’s Premier League meeting with Nottingham Forest.
- Full Fitness Confirmed: Wing-back Anan Khalaili has recovered from a hamstring problem and is deemed “ready to play 90 minutes” by manager Pierre Sage.
- Attacking Reinforcement: Ismaïla Sarr is available to start after enjoying his best training session for the club this week.
- Ongoing Absences: A trio of first-team players, including forward Jean-Philippe Mateta and goalkeeper Dean Henderson, remain unavailable for the upcoming fixture.
- Return Timeline: The sidelined players are expected to return either for the Europa League fixture against Lyon or the Premier League clash against Brighton on 18 October.
Crystal Palace (South London News) October 9, 2026 – Crystal Palace manager Pierre Sage has confirmed a double fitness boost ahead of Sunday’s Premier League match against Nottingham Forest at Selhurst Park, announcing that both Anan Khalaili and Ismaïla Sarr are fit and available for selection, whilst simultaneously confirming that three key squad members will remain sidelined for the weekend fixture.
Which Crystal Palace Players Are Available for Selection Against Nottingham Forest?
As reported by the official Crystal Palace editorial staff, manager Pierre Sage confirmed during his pre-match press conference that right wing-back Anan Khalaili and forward Ismaïla Sarr have been declared fit for the upcoming league encounter following the conclusion of the international break.
According to reporting by the Crystal Palace media team, Sage explicitly stated: “Anan Khalaili is ready to play 90 minutes.” The 21-year-old Israeli wing-back had raised fitness concerns after being forced off in the 77th minute of Israel’s goalless draw against Kosovo due to a suspected hamstring issue, subsequently missing his country’s following international fixture. However, evaluations by the Palace medical team confirmed full recovery prior to Sunday’s game.
Furthermore, as documented by the official club report, Pierre Sage provided an encouraging update regarding Senegalese winger Ismaïla Sarr, noting that the player has made significant progress during training sessions throughout the week. As reported by the Crystal Palace media team, Sage declared:
“Ismaïla Sarr is now able to start. He had his best session for us this week and I hope we can ‘re-find’ the player.”
Which Crystal Palace First-Team Players Remain Sidelined Through Injury?
As reported by the club’s official communications department, Pierre Sage delivered a mixed overall assessment by revealing that a trio of senior players remain unavailable for selection this Sunday.
According to reporting by the Crystal Palace media channel, French forward Jean-Philippe Mateta, goalkeeper Dean Henderson, and defender Takehiro Tomiyasu will miss the visit of Nottingham Forest as they continue their respective rehabilitation programmes. Whilst Mateta has recently returned to partial training on the grass, Sage confirmed that the striker is not yet match-ready to participate in competitive action.
As reported by the official Crystal Palace website, Pierre Sage clarified the expected timeline for the recovery of the injured trio, stating:
“But we expect all three of them to come back for Lyon, or Brighton.”
Background of the Particular Development
The injury updates provided by Pierre Sage arrive at a pivotal juncture in Crystal Palace’s campaign as the club balances domestic Premier League commitments with their continental UEFA Europa League group stage matches. The acquisition of Anan Khalaili during the summer transfer window for a reported £21 million fee from Belgian champions Union Saint-Gilloise was designed to provide tactical versatility and dynamism along the right flank. Khalaili’s immediate integration into the starting line-up highlighted his importance to Sage’s tactical setup, making his minor hamstring scare during international duty a matter of significant concern for the South London club.
Similarly, Ismaïla Sarr’s integration into the squad has required careful workload management to bring the forward to peak match sharpness. With regular starting striker Jean-Philippe Mateta unavailable alongside primary goalkeeper Dean Henderson, Crystal Palace have had to rely on squad depth across their defensive and offensive units. The return of European competition with an upcoming fixture against French side Lyon, followed immediately by a derby against Brighton & Hove Albion, has heightened the necessity for squad rotation and player availability.
Prediction: How This Development Can Affect Crystal Palace Football Club and Its Supporters
The return to fitness of Anan Khalaili and Ismaïla Sarr provides crucial structural flexibility for Pierre Sage ahead of a demanding period of competitive fixtures. For Crystal Palace as an organization, having Khalaili available to complete a full 90 minutes eliminates the immediate tactical disruption on the right side of the defence, allowing the coaching staff to maintain their planned defensive shape without relying on emergency positional changes or rushing competing options into extended minutes.
For the Palace matchday squad and supporters, Ismaïla Sarr’s availability to start restores a direct attacking option capable of stretching opposing defensive lines. Sarr’s return is particularly impactful in mitigating the absence of Jean-Philippe Mateta, offering alternative routes to goal through pace and direct wing play. However, the continued absence of three primary first-team figures ensures that squad depth will remain under scrutiny. If the recovery timelines for Mateta, Henderson, and Tomiyasu proceed according to plan for the upcoming Lyon and Brighton fixtures, Crystal Palace will enter an intensive autumn schedule with near-full squad capacity, stabilizing both league positioning and European progression.
