Hodgson Has Three Reasons To Smile

Crystal Palace manager Roy Hodgson has revealed he has three reasons for cheer ahead of the game against Huddersfield Town this weekend.

Crystal Palace head to the John Smith’s Stadium this weekend for the game against David Wagner’s side for the final game ahead of the March international break kicking into force for the club.

With Wilfried Zaha returning to play his part in the game against Chelsea last weekend, he’s obviously fitter this coming weekend but we have also welcomed back Ruben Loftus-Cheek and Yohan Cabaye to training, although Hodgson was quick to point out that all three still needed time to get back to their best as they continue building their fitness, at least our injury troubles were once again easing.

Speaking to Crystal Palace FC as he met with the media for his pre game press conference, the gaffer explained.

‘It`s great to have them back but quite a few of them haven`t played football for quite a long period of time and I can`t necessarily expect that they are going to go back on the field without any match experience and reproduce the performances they did in the good spell that we have had.’

With Palace going into the game with a view to a six pointer given relative places in the Premier League table, Huddersfield are four points ahead, Hodgson felt that with eight remaining in the season every game has to take on that importance now.

‘Every game you are going to play between now and the end of the season is a massive game, it is not helpful to build games up as win at all costs but we all know, including Huddersfield, the importance of getting three points from the game and the disappointment you will feel if you get no points from the game.’

He added.

‘For me as a coach my thinking about the match is that we have to be well prepared to play a Huddersfield team who are very good and difficult to beat so we have to be prepared for that to make certain we do everything in our power to be as well prepared as we can be to get points from the game.’

With his words about expecting too much too quickly from returning players, there was special mention for Zaha in Sky Sports’ coverage.

‘Neither Wilf nor I can guarantee that he’s going to be able to find that level of form again. I’d rather not put him under that much pressure. All we want from Wilf Zaha is the desire, the determination and the character to do what we know he can do. When you focus the spotlight so much on one person I think it’s very, very dangerous. I’m hoping there’ll be quite a few other players who step up in these final games.’