SOCCER
Quinten Timber and Jorgen Strand Larsen Ready for Hoffenheim, Sage Says
Crystal Palace expect the pair to be available Thursday, while Takehiro Tomiyasu remains out until after the international break.
Quinten Timber and Jorgen Strand Larsen will be ready to play against Hoffenheim on Thursday, Crystal Palace coach Pierre Sage said at his Wednesday news conference.
Both players had been sidelined since Palace’s 2–2 draw with Besiktas. Their availability gives Sage additional options for the Europa League match at Selhurst Park, which is scheduled to begin at 12:45 p.m. ET.
Sage’s injury update, reported by the BBC, also ruled out Takehiro Tomiyasu returning before the November international break. Ismaila Sarr continues to manage a groin problem, while Chadi Riad is rehabilitating a long-term knee injury.
The Hoffenheim fixture will be Palace’s eighth match in 25 days as the club competes in four competitions. Sage said his players had three training sessions to prepare, allowing the staff to work on improving their attacking play after the previous two games.
He identified collecting three points and moving closer to the knockout rounds as the immediate objective. Timber and Strand Larsen’s return to availability does not establish that either will start; Sage’s update concerned their readiness to play.
