Sakho’s the man to help Eagles soar, insists Roy

ROY HODGSON hopes Mamadou Sakho can become a talismanic figure in Crystal Palace’s bid to climb the Premier League table. The Eagles could set a new record for the longest start to a season without a goal in top-flight history at high-flying Manchester City this afternoon. New Palace boss Hodgson (below) will be banking on Christian Benteke to end his sixgame league goal drought — but also tipped former Liverpool centre-back Sakho to shore up his side’s defensive effort. Sakho will make his first Premier League start since his permanent Palace switch, with Hodgson hailing the 27-year-old’s Selhurst Park impact. ‘I heard so many good things about him, and had seen him play for Liverpool and Palace last year, but I can understand why he’s made himself a bit of a favourite with the Selhurst fans,’ said Hodgson of Sakho. ‘The centre of defence has been reasonably strong, but he does strengthen that area of our team. ‘We hope, with his quality and his leadership qualities, he helps us move away from the relegation zone. He is match fit. He will start.’ Palace remain goalless and pointless after their five opening league clashes, but at least managed to claim a League Cup victory over Huddersfield on Tuesday night. Hodgson hopes the Eagles’ first win of his tenure can now prove the catalyst to better times in the league, as the south Londoners seek to move past Frank de Boer’s short-lived and fruitless time at the helm. Palace now face City, Manchester United, Chelsea and Newcastle in a daunting Premier League run — but Hodgson insisted he will not set a points target for that challenging schedule. ‘Set yourself a points target? That would be setting us up to fail,’ said Hodgson. ‘We all know how good those top teams are. It will be a tough ask. The pressure is never off. We need points. We need performances. ‘We should be embracing the challenge but, realistically, we know they have a better chance on paper than we do. But the game isn’t played on paper.’