Crystal Palace boss Pierre Sage says ‘players have to be shaken’ after dropping two summer signings

Pierre Sage has warned summer arrivals Dwight McNeil and Evann Guessand that they must improve after dropping them for Crystal Palace’s 3-2 Premier League victory at Fulham on Saturday. The attacking duo were left out of the matchday squad at Craven Cottage due to Sage's dissatisfaction with their substitute appearances in the 4-1 home defeat against Manchester City eight days earlier. A double from Tyrick Mitchell and a Ben Chilwell winner secured the Frenchman his first win in charge. Sage admitted McNeil and Guessand were unhappy with his decision, but offered them a route back when Palace host 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," said Sage. "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. Dwight McNeil (left) was one of the summer signings who did not make the Palace squad on Saturday (Getty) "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." Sage will check on squad fitness ahead of the Middlesbrough tie, with several players left "really tired" following the London derby win. Palace have flourished in cup competitions in the last two seasons, winning the FA Cup in 2025 before going on to lift the Community Shield and Conference League trophy last season. Sage will hope to lead Palace to Carabao Cup glory this season after replacing Oliver Glasner in the summer, but his team face a tough challenge against Championship high-flyers Middlesbrough, with a place in the Round of 16 on the line. Middlesbrough are currently second in the Championship after taking 10 points from their opening five matches. They sit just a solitary point behind early pace-setters Swansea in the table. Meanwhile, Palace are now up to 13th in the Premier League after getting off the mark over the weekend at Fulham following previous losses to Everton and Manchester City, and will now be aiming to build some momentum with a cup victory.