MOUNIE’S RECIPE FOR SURVIVAL
hoping to get the benefit at a key time of the season, with Crystal Palace at the John Smith’s Stadium today in a vital clash.
Mounie, 23, scored twice on his debut as Town, just up from the Championship, won 3-0 at Selhurst Park on the opening day. And David Wagner’s side will go seven points clear of thirdfrom-bottom Palace if Mounie can inspire them to another victory today.
The striker has scored against Bournemouth and West Brom in recent weeks, and claims it is all down to the porridge.
Mounie (right) said: “I have learned about the food and the way of life since coming here. At breakfast, I wasn’t used to eating eggs with beans, but now I do.
“And there’s porridge. The first time I ate it was when I came to England, and porridge is very nice.
“Has porridge helped me with my goalscoring? Yeah, I think so. Porridge has given me some energy.” ROY HODGSON has set Ruben Loftuscheek the twin goals of saving Crystal Palace from relegation and winning a place in the England World Cup squad.
The on-loan Chelsea star is back for the Eagles at Huddersfield today for the first time since December 28 after an ankle injury.
Loftus-cheek impressed on his England debut in November but now has only eight Premier League games to convince Gareth Southgate he should be on the plane to Russia.
And former England boss Hodgson said: “I hope the chance to go to the World Cup drives him on. My major hope – if I can be selfish – is that he does it for Crystal Palace but, if he can do it for both of us, I will be even happier.
“If Loftus-cheek is going to be fit between now and and the end of the season, that is an enormous boost for us. Wilf Zaha is the one everyone is focused on and maybe Ruben has passed a little bit under the radar.
“But you don’t get into the England set-up, as he did on the back of his performances, unless you have got some exceptional qualities.
“And I am certain if he gets back in our team Today Mar 31 Apr 7 Apr 14 Apr 21 Apr 28 May 5 May 13 Today Huddersfield (a) PL Mar 31 Liverpool (h) PL
Apr 7 Bournemouth (a) PL Apr 14 Brighton (h) PL
Apr 21 Watford (a) PL
Apr 28 Leicester (h) PL May 5 Stoke (a) PL
May 13 West Brom (h) PL and plays like he was before he got injured, Gareth Southgate and Steve Holland will be watching him.”
Zaha, Mamadou Sakho and Yohan Cabaye are also available as Palace seek revenge for their opening-day 3-0 defeat by newlypromoted Huddersfield.
But Hodgson faces a decision over Christian Benteke after hooking the club’s record signing at half-time at Chelsea.
And Belgium boss Roberto Martinez yesterday left Benteke, who has scored only two goals in 24 appearances this season, out of his 28-man squad.
Hodgson (above) said: “He knew he didn’t play well against Chelsea, he was the first to hold his hand up. He’s determined to make certain that he plays well enough in the future to make sure that it doesn’t happen again. That’s all you can ask for.”