Cheick Doucoure Set to Make Long-Awaited Return for Crystal Palace After 20 Months Out
Crystal Palace midfielder Cheick Doucoure is about to end a tough 20-month absence caused by serious injuries. The Mali international will feature in the upcoming Carabao Cup match against Middlesbrough, marking his first senior game since January 2025.
A Difficult Road Back
Doucoure, 26, was voted Crystal Palace’s Player of the Year in his debut 2022-23 season but has faced a string of fitness setbacks. His troubles began with a ruptured Achilles in November 2023 during a loss to Luton Town. After returning to make 13 appearances, he suffered a torn meniscus in January last year.
Having regained his form with the Under-21 team late last season and completed a full pre-season without issues, Doucoure is finally ready to rejoin the first team. His absence has been deeply felt, especially since Liverpool had shown interest in signing him in the summer of 2023 before injuries stalled his progress.
Manager Pierre Sage on Doucoure’s Return
"When I told him he would be with us today, his smile was incredible. I think his reaction was as if I gave him $1 million," said Sage. "I like this kind of reaction because that’s for me the start of how we play football, how we love this game. The only thing he wanted was to come back with the team. This is the first step and he will play a little bit on Tuesday for sure."
The upcoming Carabao Cup third-round tie against Middlesbrough will be Doucoure’s first competitive appearance since Palace’s 2-0 win over Leicester City in January 2025. Sage’s comments highlight how much the midfielder’s return boosts squad morale as the club looks to build momentum early in the season.
Balanced Team Rotation
Sage expressed caution about making too many changes to his lineup, even in cup matches. He prefers maintaining team cohesion rather than heavy rotation.
"I’m not really fond of big rotations because every time I did that I’m unhappy at the end of the game, not just with the result but sometimes with the coordination of the players," the manager explained. "At the start of the season, we have to respect the commitment of all players during sessions, and it might be their chance to show it. We have to win this game because we are ambitious in this competition too, and that’s not only about rotation."
Crystal Palace’s Current Form and Ambitions
Palace have struggled so far in the Premier League, sitting 13th with one win and two losses. The Eagles want to find the form that helped them secure major trophies recently, including the FA Cup in 2024-25, the FA Community Shield in 2025, and the UEFA Conference League last season.
After the Carabao Cup fixture, Palace will host Ipswich Town aiming to secure consecutive Premier League wins following a hard-fought 3-2 victory over Fulham.
- Competition: Carabao Cup
- Date: 8 September 2026
- Kick-off: 20:45
- Match: Crystal Palace vs Middlesbrough
