Talisman back on training pitch
Roy Hodgson has confirmed, in his pre match conference, that star man Wilfried Zaha has return to training, but on his own, and doesn’t know if he will play in or miss the derby with Brighton on Monday.
Zaha injury boost as Crystal Palace star steps up training return https://t.co/RYiyjxp7PK
— Standard Sport (@standardsport) February 18, 2021
Zaha has missed the previous two matches for Palace after picking up a thigh injury and as has often been the case, the team have felt his absence losing both games.
Hodgson speaking on Zaha in his pre-match press conference said of the Nigerian International:
“He’s still suffering from the injury, no question about that. Doctors and physios are very anxious not to put dates on, but he’s working very hard to get back as soon as he can. He has good powers of recovery so I’m hoping the prognosis will be quite different to the recovery.”
Hodgson addresses fans banner
LONDON, ENGLAND – DECEMBER 12: Roy Hodgson, Manager of Crystal Palace looks on during the Premier League match between Crystal Palace and Watford at Selhurst Park on December 12, 2017 in London, England. (Photo by Catherine Ivill/Getty Images)
Roy Hodgson also addressed a banner that was placed outside Palace’s training ground this week, demanding change to a ‘pandemic of apathy’ at the club and to ‘restore the pride, ambition and vision.’
Hodgson on banner outside the training ground: “You expect the fans to react and be critical of the performances.
“I would deny it is a lack of interest or desire on behalf of the players. I see every day here how hard people work and want to do well.” #CPFC
— Jack Rosser (@JackRosser_) February 18, 2021
Hodgson expects fans to be critical when things go wrong and agrees the club need to do better.
He said:
“Well I didn’t see it (the banner). I don’t think it was up for very long but I of course heard about it. You expect the fans, I guess – when you give a couple of performances like the last two which have been way below what we expect of ourselves – to react and to be critical of the performances.
“I would deny of course that it’s a lack of interest or desire on the part of the players. We can’t deny that we haven’t played well enough to get the results in the game but that’s a fact of life as well.
“But I would deny that’s because the players were apathetic or they haven’t wanted to do better, because I see on the training field every day how hard people do work, how much they do well.”
A win in the derby will provide some much needed joy to the South London club.
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Talisman back on training pitchRoy Hodgson has confirmed, in his pre match conference, that star man Wilfried Zaha has return to training, but on his own, and doesn’t know if he will play in or miss the derby with Brighton on Monday. Zaha injury boost as Crystal Palace star steps up training return https://t.co/RYiyjxp7PK —Football (soccer) greatest goals and highlights | 101 Great Goals – Feed