‘Dougie must take all the credit for Tosun signing’

IT IS rare for Premier League managers to lavish praise on a director of football but Roy Hodgson was happy to hand over credit after striker Cenk Tosun marked an impressive full debut for Crystal Palace with a goal in the draw at Manchester City yesterday.

Tosun, who joined Palace on loan from Everton this month, had been monitored for two years by Eagles director of football Dougie Freedman, though the Londoners could not afford the £27 million asking price when the Turkish international signed for Everton from Besiktas in 2018.

‘The credit for Cenk Tosun should go to Doug,’ said Hodgson. ‘He has watched him a lot and when we had the chance to sign him on loan he really convinced me because I hadn’t seen that much of Cenk. I was delighted with what I saw from him today. It was a wonderful debut and I hope he will produce many more performances to keep us in the position we are in.’

Tosun put Palace ahead at the Etihad with a clinical header just before half-time. City rallied to lead 2-1 thanks to two goals from striker Sergio Aguero but Palace secured a draw when Wilfried Zaha forced Fernandinho into an own goal in the final minute.

‘It would have been cruel to have lost it,’ said Hodgson. ‘City’s first goal was such a fine piece of play, you have to hold your hands up but, when they went ahead, it looked like all our hard work was in vain.

It was wonderful for our lads not to give up and get an equaliser.’

Hodgson was without seven key players through injury and suspension for the match and had to put three untried youngsters on the bench.

Palace are in talks with Tottenham over full-back Kyle Walker-Peters, while striker Connor Wickham will not be allowed out on loan to Championship side Sheffield Wednesday until Hodgson can find another stand-in striker.

The 72-year-old is the oldest manager in Premier League history and admitted being irritated on Friday when asked what he could learn from City boss Pep Guardiola.

Hodgson said: ‘I only came up with an answer overnight — to lose.’