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Hodgson says Andros ‘better than ever’
ROY HODGSON says Andros Townsend is a better player now than he was when he gave him his England debut five years ago.
The former Spurs and Newcastle star, who has started 31 Premier League games this season, has helped lift Crystal Palace five points clear of the drop before today’s visit to Watford.
Former Three Lions boss Hodgson said: “With England he was just a flying winger but he has shown this season that he can do a lot more than be a flying winger.
“He can play much more centrally. He has also defensive aspects to his play that perhaps were not quite so eminent four years ago.
“Andros has played all but a couple of games which is a fantastic achievement because he’s also had to battle through injury problems.
“But his determination to get on the field has got him through that, and his work-rate and determination to do well for the team has been extremely valuable.”
Townsend has fallen down the England pecking order behind the next generation of Raheem Sterling and Marcus Rashford. He scored a memorable goal against Montenegro on his England debut but was left out of the Euro 2016 squad by Hodgson. It was the last time they spoke before Hodgson arrived at Selhurst Park last September but the 68-year-old has again brought the best out of Townsend.
“I don’t do anything different with him than I do with my other players,” said the Eagles boss.
“We try to use them in a way which suits their play.
“For example, we don’t encourage Wilf Zaha to play one-touch football. We don’t encourage Andros Townsend not to get his shots away when he’s around the edge of the box or to make runs in behind people where the ball can be played.
“He’s always done well for me as a player in a team and a squad – he has that great quality for a footballer of reliability.” Hodgson must decide whether to continue with Townsend and Zaha as his attacking tandem or bring in Christian Benteke or Alexander Sorloth as a conventional target-man at Vicarage Road.