TOWN FLIER But Andros has lot more in his locker
ROY Hodgson claims Andros Townsend is a better player now than when he helped fire England to a World Cup.
The 26-year-old was handed his first cap by Hodgson during the 2014 qualifying campaign, and the pair were reunited at Crystal Palace this season.
But the winger has slipped out of the international reckoning despite playing a major role in the Eagles’ bid to haul themselves to Premier League safety.
Townsend was last called up by Gareth Southgate against Spain 18 months ago and does not appear to be in the England manager’s thoughts ahead of the World Cup in Russia.
But Palace manager Hodgson has no doubt about Townsend’s value, especially after adapting to play alongside Wilf Zaha up front.
Hodgson (inset) said: “With England then he was just a flying winger, wasn’t he?
“He has shown this season that he can do a lot more than be a flying winger.
“He can play one of two wide forwards playing much more centrally.
“He has also shown defensive aspects to his play that perhaps were not quite so evident.”
Townsend’s efforts have gone under the radar with Zaha grabbing the attention during Palace’s survival scrap.
But Hodgson added: “I don’t do anything different with him than I do with my other players.
“But he’s always done well for me as a player in a team and a squad, he has that great quality of reliability.”
Hodgson’s counterpart today insists he is not worried about by IAN WINROW becoming the latest casualty of Watford’s annual end-of-season slump. The Hornets host Palace without a win in their last five outings. Relegation is unlikely but that did not stop the Hornets getting rid of their managers after limp ends to last season and the season before. Walter Mazzarri was sacked almost a year ago after Watford lost every one of the last six games. Quique Sanchez Flores was shown the door in 2016 following just one win in the final six fixtures. But Javi Gracia, hired in January after Marco Silva was sacked, said: “I don’t worry “I am about a professional that. and I know it that, is my contract job to or try no to contract, get more points in the last four games of the season. “I spend my time thinking about that and the next game, which is a vital game for us and Palace.”