ROY BACKS RACE ROW ACE
ROY HODGSON is prepared to leave Wilfried Zaha out of the Crystal Palace team if the racist abuse he receives ever gets too much.
But rather than be cowed by online trolls, Hodgson says the 27-year-old (right) has the mental strength to join Raheem Sterling in leading the fight for equality instead.
A 12-year-old boy was arrested after Zaha revealed racist messages before Sunday’s defeat to Aston Villa, but the Ivory Coast winger played the whole game. And asked whether he’d consider resting Zaha for his wellbeing, Hodgson said: “What a sad day that would be.
“If you don’t feel mentally ready to play because this abuse has hurt you so much, I understand that.
“It would have to be a decision he makes. When he tells me, ‘No, I am ready, I will play’, I don’t think there is any
■ (above) option but to take that at face value.
“For Wilf to receive this on the day of a game and go out and play and forget about it, is asking something which isn’t humanly possible.”
But Hodgson added: “Has Wilf got the character to step forward in the same way as Raheem Sterling? Yes. He’s strong enough to do it.”
Hodgson, whose side host Manchester United tonight, also revealed he had a loan bid for Mason Greenwood knocked back. He said: “We enquired about him. He is a fantastic player.”