Benteke goal drought a blueprint back for Hodgson

Roy Hodgson is stricken referring to the unhappy assemble of Crystal Palace striker Christian Benteke, with the Belgium global but to procure off the trace this season.

Benteke hit 15 Premier League desires final season to steer the Eagles away from relegation possibility, nonetheless has made 12 top-flight appearances without discovering the accumulate this time duration.

The 27-year-old drew any other blank in Tuesday’s dramatic 2-1 take at home to 10-man Watford, when slack desires from Bakary Sako and James McArthur saw Palace snatch all three functions after Tom Cleverley’s 87th-minute dismissal.

But no matter Palace extending their unbeaten trudge to 6 league games, Hodgson conceded Benteke’s lack of desires is a blueprint back, the striker having neglected a slack penalty in Saturday’s 2-2 blueprint with Bournemouth after tense to make your mind up the region-kick.

« Pointless to convey, him no longer scoring is a blueprint back to us, to him and to the fans, » Hodgson mentioned at a media convention to preview this weekend’s time out to Leicester Metropolis. « He desires to defend working onerous and procure a correct contribution to the crew.

« We are in a position to no longer come up with the money for to defend any individual, no longer to mention a goalscorer who isn’t any longer scoring desires. We are in a position to also no longer defend reminding him about it. I wouldn’t be gaining a huge deal by doing that. »

RH: « I fabricate no longer think it be appropriate to talk up or talk down a pair of of the teams around you.

« Now we include ample tension and accountability.

« But while you occur to seek files from am I glad with what we include carried out within the final 10 games, the desk does witness better. » pic.twitter.com/d7Zvhid8Xr

— Crystal Palace F.C. (@CPFC) December 14, 2017

Hodgson accredited the flying Foxes – on a four-sport winning dash beneath sleek supervisor Claude Puel – shall be a no longer easy take a look at for his bettering facet, who sit down 18th within the Premier League.

« They are a correct crew with correct gamers, so the supervisor has carried out properly since he’s advance into the club, » Hodgson mentioned.

« It be no surprise to us that Leicester are winning fits, scoring desires and playing properly on story of we know what a correct crew they’re. It be no longer that manner advantage that they were the champions of England. You fabricate no longer was champions and lose all of your quality within a season.

« Even without the results that they’ve put collectively we would include restful been very respectful once we slump there on Saturday – and fearing the quality that they’ve. »

Palace will again be without defenders Damien Delaney, Joel Ward and Mamadou Sakho, while defensive midfielder Luka Milivojevic misses out thru suspension.

And Hodgson confirmed Palace are doubtful when Sakho shall be fit to advance advantage to circulate, the ex-Liverpool defender having injured a calf in opposition to Bournemouth.

« It be a ways too early to recount – it be a important muscle tension or run, » the extinct England supervisor added. « Clinical doctors isn’t any longer going to place a timescale on it nonetheless it no doubt’s going to be some time, that is for obvious. »