Hodgson hails Loftus-cheek impact

Roy Hodgson will not be telling his successor as England manager, Gareth Southgate, who to pick for England’s World Cup squad – but he would be happy to endorse Ruben Loftus-cheek.

The midfielder is on Southgate’s radar and the Crystal Palace manager says he is playing as well as when he made an eye-catching start to his international career in November’s friendly with Germany. On Saturday, in only his second start since a three-month lay-off following an ankle injury, Loftuscheek showed that he could force his way back into Southgate’s plans.

“He has reached this form probably quicker than we thought and he has qualities,” said Hodgson. “If he can play regularly for the last part of the season, then I think we will see him doing more and more as a player.”

The question of whether Palace can keep the on-loan midfielder remains, and Hodgson acknowledges the player’s value is on the rise, should Chelsea decide to sell.

“There’s no doubt he is going to be hot property if he has four more games like the last couple,” he said. “Not just for Crystal Palace but for other teams, too.”

Loftus-cheek played a prominent role as Hodgson’s side took a significant step towards safety. Wilfried Zaha was the stand-out figure, scoring his side’s first and third goals either side of the second from James Tomkins in a frantic first half in which Brighton twice reduced the deficit through Glenn Murray and Jose Izquierdo but were unable to conjure an equaliser.

Chris Hughton, the Brighton manager, said he was “disappointed” that the Football Association had ruled that the charge that West Brom forward Jay Rodriguez had racially abused Gaetan Bong, the Brighton defender, was “not proven”.