Pierre Sage has warned summer signings Dwight McNeil and Evann Guessand that they must improve after leaving them out of Crystal Palace's squad for Saturday's 3-2 Premier League victory at Fulham.
The attacking duo were dropped because Sage was unhappy with their substitute appearances in the 4-1 home defeat to Manchester City eight days earlier. A double from Tyrick Mitchell and a Ben Chilwell winner secured the Frenchman his first win in charge.
Sage admitted McNeil and Guessand were unhappy with the decision but offered them a route back when Palace host Middlesbrough in the Carabao Cup third round on Tuesday. "It's my decision, a sports decision, and sometimes players have to be shaken to come back and regain their level," he said.
Palace are 13th in the Premier League after their first win of the season, while Middlesbrough sit second in the Championship.