Roy wants his Eagles to be Foxes

AS he discussed whether Wilfried Zaha can fulfil his ambitions at Crystal Palace after signing a new five-year deal, Roy Hodgson likened his side with clubs like Leicester.

Clubs who know “it is not going to be easy to get your hands on a trophy” but are capable of punching above their weight to upset the establishment.

It was a suggestion to make your ears prick up because Leicester’s trophy was the 2016 Premier League title and Hodgson is not one for particularly bold claims. He is an experienced manager who carefully ensures he only says exactly what he wants and means. Nothing more.

Ask him for player comparisons or points predictions and he’ll make his disinterest crystal clear as politely as possible. That’s what made Hodgson likening Zaha (above) and Co to the Foxes all the more noteworthy.

His belief that Palace should be looking up rather than down is not without foundation. All 44 of their points last season came in 31 games – after they started with seven straight league defeats.

Had they produced that form over the whole campaign they would have been challenging Europa League Burnley for seventh spot.

Midway through the summer the fear was Palace were in for another relegation battle. But a late flurry of transfer activity has left them quite possibly stronger than last season so why can’t the Eagles be another Premier League surprise package?

If not this year, then maybe within the next five to show talisman Zaha he can achieve big things at the club.