Pierre Sage has backed Ismaila Sarr to become even more influential after the Crystal Palace forward made his return from a lengthy injury lay-off.
Sarr returned to action against Lech Poznan, marking an important step in his recovery and giving Palace another attacking option to call upon.
The Senegal international had been sidelined for an extended period, making his comeback a significant moment for both the player and the club.
Sage was delighted to see Sarr back on the pitch and revealed that the Palace supporters’ affection for the forward is fully deserved.
“I know the fans love him and I think he deserves to be loved like this.
“It’s always difficult when you come back after a long injury like this. But the most important thing for us is to put him on the pitch for his first steps. With time, with minutes, he will be better and better.
The Palace boss is clearly aware that Sarr will need time to rediscover his sharpness after such a long absence.
Rather than expecting an instant return to his best, Sage believes giving the attacker valuable minutes will gradually bring him back to full fitness and confidence.
Sarr’s return also carries plenty of excitement because of what he produced for Palace in the Conference League last season.
Sage revealed that he had watched clips of the forward’s goals from last year’s European campaign, with those performances offering a glimpse of what Sarr could once again bring to the team.
“This afternoon I saw the clips of his goals last year in the Conference League. I think if he is able to do that and he will be able to do that with us anymore, it will be very, very, very positive for the team.”
The message from Sage is clear: Palace are not simply happy to have Sarr back in the squad. They are looking forward to seeing what he can produce once he gets more minutes under his belt.
The forward’s ability to contribute goals and attacking threat could become particularly valuable as Palace continue to balance domestic and European commitments.
For now, the priority is allowing Sarr to build his fitness gradually.
His appearance against Lech Poznan represents the first major step in that process, and every additional minute should help him regain his rhythm.
The reaction from the supporters also underlines how highly Sarr is regarded around the club.
After spending time away from competitive action, the forward has returned to a warm reception from the fans and strong backing from his manager.
Sage believes that support can only help Sarr as he works towards his best level again.
If the Palace forward can rediscover the form that made him a threat in last season’s Conference League campaign, the club could have another major attacking weapon ready to make an impact.
For Sarr, the long wait is over. Now comes the hard part: turning his comeback minutes into the kind of performances that made Palace fans fall in love with him in the first place.
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