‘He’s a candidate’ – Roy Hodgson confirms Matheus Franca’s Crystal Palace injury return

Crystal Palace boss Roy Hodgson has confirmed that Matheus Franca is available for tomorrow’s Premier League clash at Newcastle – but has urged caution over the 19-year-old’s start to life at the club.

Franca has been absent from the start of the 2023-24 Premier League campaign after a stress fracture in his lower back was detected during his medical

The Eagles signed the attacker from Flamengo on a five-year deal for a fee that could rise £26million.

“He’s not injured. He’s a candidate – yeah,” Hodgson confirmed.

“We need to see him in games. We have to get him into either the first team – when he’s knocked someone off their perch and gets into the team or in the substitutes – or watch him in a U21s game.

“As far as we’re concerned in the coaching staff, all we’ve seen is the highlights of his matches with Flamengo. We still wait to see the evidence of him as a player in a team environment, but in training he’s fine, he works hard, and he does the right thing.

“He’s coming to terms with the way we try to work and he’s getting to know his teammates.

“He’s been extremely good in picking up the language so quickly and being able to understand all the things we’re saying to him and asking of him.

“When we train, he understands the exercises and information we’re giving him. “Now it’s a question of when he gets his chance to get on the field of play and show how good he is, he’ll have to take that chance.

“People shouldn’t forget he’s 19 years of age. It’s not going to be a question of that in a week or two, he won’t suddenly become Lionel Messi – that’s not how it works. 

“But as a 19-year-old, he’s making good progress, as I would say are David Ozoh and Jes Rak-Sakyi.”

PICTURE: CPFC