Crystal Palace captain Dean Henderson ruled out until after international break

Crystal Palace captain Dean Henderson faces a spell on the sidelines as he recovers from an ankle injury. The 29-year-old goalkeeper, who has been managing the issue since pre-season, is set to miss a crucial run of fixtures including the club's opening match in the Europa League.

Manager Pierre Sage confirmed that Henderson had been playing through discomfort since sustaining the injury in a summer friendly against Freiburg. Although the keeper had managed to perform well, the medical staff and the manager concluded that the risk of further aggravation is currently too high.

He has been playing injured since the beginning of the season because he was injured in the pre-season. He hasn’t trained too much but he has played well. The pain is too much for the moment, and we don’t want to take a risk. Pierre Sage

The injury also impacts Henderson's international status, with the goalkeeper expected to miss the upcoming England squad duty for the UEFA Nations League fixtures. For Palace, the absence of their undisputed first-choice goalkeeper adds pressure to a defensive unit that has conceded 11 goals in the opening four league matches.

Amidst the injury concerns, manager Pierre Sage remains focused on internal discipline. Recent squad rotations, including the exclusion of defender Jaydee Canvot, highlight Sage's intent to maintain high standards and accountability within the squad regardless of player reputation.