Connor Wickham to start for Crystal Palace at Derby – as Hodgson admits medical department would like to see widespread changes
BY RICHARD CAWLEY
Crystal Palace manager Roy Hodgson has confirmed that Connor Wickham will start in Sunday’s FA Cup tie at Derby County – and reckons he has no option but to make major changes to his starting line up.
The Eagles have nine senior players injured with Mamadou Sakho damaging his hamstring in yesterday’s 1-1 draw at Norwich City.
Wickham came off the bench to equalise for the Eagles – VAR ruling that he was onside as he converted Wilfried Zaha’s cross.
“He has been very unlucky with injuries,” said Hodgson. “It has been injury after injury and for a large percentage of my time at the club he has not been available.
“Once or twice he has worked hard to get fit and has looked fit enough to play, but then he has gone into an FA Cup, League Cup or even sometimes an U23 game to get match fit and he gets injured again.
“I’m looking forward to seeing him play Sunday. Some of these boys definitely do need a rest – there is no question about that.
“It would be nice to say ‘no problem – we’ll put them all out there again’ but I’ve got to be a little bit careful. I’m certain if I let my medical department pick the team there won’t be many senior players playing. It will be a little bit of a fight, in that respect.
“I’ve got to listen to what they say. I can’t afford, with our lack of full-backs at the moment, for anything to happen to people like Martin Kelly or Jairo Riedewald because quite frankly there isn’t anybody else who can come in and do that job.”
Please Roy buy a centre forward and a good fast full back. PARISH you are an excellent supporter and co owner. Give him the money to do so.
I’m sure Roy would buy but it’s not his money . Stop moaning at him .
How about trading wilf for baile
Two points.
Firstly we’re at home not away on Sunday and secondly we have eight not nine first team players out injured at the moment. Please do your homework first before putting your thoughts into print!!
There is something political going on here. There was no praise for Wickham from Roy’s mouth. It is all about cutting him down instead of building him up. Personally, I believe that it is a racial issue and that Roy is committed to building up the egos of that group of players. Basically, he doesn’t want a star with the skin tone that Connor bears.
im so sick and tired of reading rubbish….we have naught in our coffers to spend, as its been that way for almost 2 years…