Lerma steps into Palace’s back line for injured Tomiyasu

Jefferson Lerma replaces the injured Takehiro Tomiyasu in Crystal Palace’s only change for Nottingham Forest. Tomiyasu is out with a calf injury, while manager Pierre Sage keeps the rest of the starting XI that finished Palace’s 0-0 draw at Leeds United three weeks ago.

Palace return to action after the international window and a three-week gap. The club said 11 senior internationals had returned ahead of the match at Selhurst Park.

Walter Benítez starts in goal again with captain Dean Henderson still sidelined by a foot injury. Benítez made a vital save at Leeds, where Palace kept their first league clean sheet of the season. Ismaïla Sarr, who came on at Leeds for his return to Premier League action, is among the substitutes again.

Palace’s starting XI is Benítez, Lerma, Richards, Canvot, Khalaili, Timber, Wharton, Mitchell, Pino, Kamada and Strand Larsen. The substitutes are Matthews, Ahanor, Mingueza, Doucouré, Hughes, McNeil, Sarr, Guessand and Nketiah.

Palace sit 15th with four points from five games. Their clean sheet at Leeds brought a point; now Lerma comes into the back line as they look to build on that defensive result against Forest. Kick-off is at 14:00 BST on Sunday, 11 October.