V CHEEKY ROY HOPES FOR RUBEN ‘FAVOUR’

Selhurst Park: Tomorrow, 12 noon

ROY HODGSON says Ruben Loftus-cheek owes him a favour for helping the midfielder have the season which earned him a starring role at the 2018 World Cup with England.

But the Crystal Palace manager is hoping Loftuscheek (above) repays that favour by having an off day for Fulham tomorrow.

Former England coach Hodgson’s tongue is firmly in his cheek though – because he knows Loftus-cheek and Fulham arrive determined to claim the three points they need in their fight to stay up.

Loftus-cheek spent a season on loan at Palace after recovering from back problems at Chelsea in 2017-18, just as Hodgson (inset) arrived at the club.

The midfielder made 25 appearances as he helped steer Palace away from the drop zone, scoring two goals and booking himself a place in Gareth Southgate’s squad for the World Cup in Russia, where he played a leading role.

Hodgson said: “I have been very impressed with Ruben. He has got stronger and stronger, just like he did with us. Now he has got a run of games behind him, he’s one hell of a good player.

“I hope now the injury days are over and he can be playing football on a regular basis, showing his skills like he has been doing these last few weeks.

“But I would be very happy if he decides not to do that against us. You could argue he owes me a bad game!

“Ruben was excellent for Palace in every respect. He’d come having suffered from back injuries and, while he was here, there were times his back was playing up. “But he got fitter and stronger and, towards the end of the season, was playing outstanding football. Really looking like the player I knew he could be. I was not surprised when Chelsea rejected our efforts to either get him back on loan or buy him.

“He has been so unlucky with injuries. It has taken him this long to get back to playing the football he was for us three years ago.”

Hodgson confirmed that talisman Wilfried Zaha is back in training after three weeks out with a hamstring injury, and could even be back in action next week.