Phil Haigh
Published December 1, 2025 1:58pm
Updated December 1, 2025 1:58pm
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Crystal Palace forward Ismaila Sarr is set for a spell on the sidelines (Picture: Getty Images)
Ismaila Sarr is expected to be out for ‘a few games’ after limping out of Crystal Palace’s defeat to Manchester United on Sunday.
The 27-year-old started at Selhurst Park but was taken off after 38 minutes, replaced by Eddie Nketiah.
The injury appeared to be an ankle problem and came about after a strong challenge from Red Devils full-back Diogo Dalot.
Eagles boss Oliver Glasner did not sound positive about the forward’s injury after the 2-1 defeat.
The Africa Cup of Nations is coming up this month, with Sarr set to be in action for Senegal, and Glasner is not sure the former Watford man will be back before that tournament.
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‘We all have to assess him further but the ankle is quite swollen, so I think he will miss a few games,’ Glasner said on Sunday afternoon.
‘Maybe we won’t see him again before the Afcon.’
Sarr limped off in the first half at Selhurst Park (Picture: Getty Images)
The event in Morocco gets underway on December 21, with Senegal’s first match against Botswana two days later in Tangier.
Sarr’s participation in the Africa Cup of Nations has been put under some doubt, with Glasner suggesting he will not play for Palace again before the tournament begins.
Certainly the ankle problem looked serious as he was seen limping out of Selhurst Park on crutches and wearing a protective boot after the loss to Manchester United.
Sarr spotted on crutches. 🩼 pic.twitter.com/z9W6HwOr6m
— Palace Report (@PalaceReport) November 30, 2025
If Sarr does indeed now miss all of Crystal Palace’s fixtures before Afcon, that will see him sit out of Premier League contests with Burnley, Fulham, Man City and Leeds, along with Europa Conference League meetings with Shelbourne and KuPS.
If he has recovered by then, how many Palace games he then misses depends on how well Senegal get on in Morocco, but he will certainly not play against Arsenal in the Carabao Cup quarter-finals on December 23 or against Spurs in the Premier League five days later.
Fulham at home on New Year’s Day also looks like it will be out of the question for Sarr.
Oliver Glasner was left frustrated for a number of reasons on Sunday (Picture: Getty Images)
Sarr has been an important part of Glasner’s side so far this season, already racking up 19 appearances in all competitions and scoring eight goals.
With a hectic festive schedule ahead in multiple competitions, it is a serious blow for the Austrian boss.
Glasner was clearly frustrated with the state of his squad after the game on Sunday, hitting out at the club’s hierarchy for not investing in the summer transfer window, which saw them selling Eberechi Eze to Arsenal for £60m.
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‘I think it’s what we missed in summer, definitely,’ Glasner said on TNT Sports. ‘I never talked about it until now, but everything that happened was pretty clear.
Glasner kept hold of Marc Guehi over the summer, but lost Eberechi Eze (Picture: Getty Images)
‘If you play for the first time in your club’s history, European football, I think the right answer is invest and not save. We saved and that’s what we are facing.
‘This group of players give me everything every single day, but I think this group of players didn’t get the right support.
‘But I know we will stick together, we will work hard to change this. We’re still in very good positions but again, I think this was a chance to have an even better season, we threw away in summer.’
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