ROY’S JOY AT TOSUN SWOOP

ROY HODGSON reckons it will be second time lucky for Cenk Tosun at Crystal Palace.

Hodgson tried to sign the Besiktas striker in January 2018 before he made his £27million move to Everton.

But after starting only 24 Premier League games in two years on Merseyside, and scoring nine goals, Tosun has agreed a six-month loan to Selhurst Park.

Hodgson, who still wants Tottenham’s Kyle Walker-Peters, declared the signing will boost his injury-hit squad and the centreforward goes straight into the squad for today’s visit of Arsenal.

And the Eagles boss said Tosun wants to make up for lost time to book his place in Turkey’s squad for Euro 2020.

“He could have been a Palace player a lot sooner but there are no hard feelings he did not sign before – it’s a professional business,” said Hodgson.

“There was a serious interest in us signing him two years ago but Everton won the race for his signature, so it’s nice now to have a second bite of the cherry.

“We feel we know him and what he can do, and the qualities he’ll bring. He’s a goalscorer. When he came on for 10 minutes at Everton last season he finished the game off by scoring the second goal.

“He hasn’t seen much gametime at Everton, and is desperate to get on to the field to show what he can do, especially with the Euros coming up.”

Hodgson insisted Tosun could team up with record signing Christian Benteke who is still out with a knee injury. “Of course they can play together,” he said.

Captain Luka Milivojevic will start a three-match ban after Palace failed in an appeal against his dismissal in Sunday’s FA Cup defeat to Derby.

“Even the referee, when I spoke to him after the game, agreed,” said Hodgson. “He thought said he felt it was harsh but it was a decision he felt he had to take.”