Is Sarr the spark Palace have been missing?

From lifting the FA Cup with his club to winning the Africa Cup of Nations with his country, the past year has been a fairytale for Ismaila Sarr.

After joining Crystal Palace in 2024 as a replacement for Michael Olise, Sarr endured a slow start, but has since become a fundamental part of Palace's success.

It was always going to be a tough ask to fill the boots of arguably the best player to ever wear a Palace shirt, but once the Senegalese winger settled, his importance became clear.

Since signing he has picked up 20 goals, three of which proved pivotal in our FA Cup run, as well as the equaliser against Liverpool in the Community Shield.

If he hasn't been keeping up with the events back home while away, it's safe to say he's in for a shock! His absence, through a combination of injury and international duty, has had a clear impact.

Since his last appearance in December, Palace haven't won a single league game, have scored just three league goals and have looked totally lacklustre in the final third. We've also failed to outright qualify for the Conference League and got knocked out of the FA Cup during that period.

So, is Sarr the spark Palace have been missing?

It would be naive to say one player alone could fix the woes the club is currently facing at the moment, but returning to the side on a high of winning a major international tournament could be exactly what Palace need.

His energy, directness and goal threat have been sorely missed and hopefully his return may provide a much-needed lift at a difficult time.

Find more from Ellie Killick at Eagle Eye View