Pre-season has begun for Crystal Palace under new manager Pierre Sage.A 5-1 win over Swindon Town on Saturday represented a positive start to preparations for the new campaign, and it offered an opportunity for returning loanees and long-term absentees to showcase their ability to Sage.This pre-season provides more of a chance for those players who have previously struggled to make an impact, as well as those who spent time out on loan last term and are now looking at their options or to break into the first team. Likewise, there are players who have spent time in rehabilitation from injury, with this a chance to show what they can do.With 12 players away at the World Cup and half of them reaching at least the quarter-finals, there is an opening for fringe personnel not just to make up the numbers but to be more active participants and obtain significant minutes as well as making a mark in training. Palace face Bromley on Saturday before spending the week in Italy at the Como Cup where they are guaranteed three games, albeit those will be 45 rather than 90 minutes long.That tournament brings an element of competition and greater intensity to mirror more closely the upcoming campaign in the Premier League and Europa League. Should those young players or the fringe players make their mark, they stand a chance of persuading Sage and the club’s hierarchy their future is at Palace.Here, The Athletic takes a look at those with something to prove.Cheick Doucoure Age: 26Games in 2025-26: NoneLast Palace appearance: January 15, 2025 at Leicester CityDoucoure has spent most of the past two and a half years out with injury — first a ruptured Achilles and then a torn meniscus in his knee. He was voted player of the year in 2023, and had attracted interest from Liverpool for his performances in central midfield.The 26-year-old, who is under contract until 2029, returned to action for the under-21 side in March after 14 months out and has worked hard to be in a position to be ready for pre-season training.Adam Wharton and Daichi Kamada will be the first-choice midfielders, but Doucoure may offer a valuable squad option as Palace compete in at least eight Europa League games this season. Having better-quality depth is crucial to managing their campaign across multiple competitions and avoiding the dips in form and performances seen last season.But having played just 13 senior games since his first injury in November 2023, Doucoure will be hoping to prove himself. A new manager offers him that opportunity and he played 45 minutes in Palace’s first pre-season fixture against Swindon.Cheick Doucoure has not played for Palace since January 2025, at Leicester City (Mark Thompson/Getty Images)His recycling of the ball, positioning and ability to turn defence into attack quickly — even with short passing — are all attributes which help him stand out as an excellent alternative to Wharton or Kamada, and a different profile to Will Hughes or Jefferson Lerma.It will be a tough ask to expect Doucoure to return to previous levels so soon, but if he can show Sage there is still quality on offer then he will be involved this season.