Crystal Palace boss reveals biggest focus for Brighton clash
Roy Hodgson says that the focus for next weekend’s game against Brighton & Hove Albion will be to ensure the side has a fit squad that is prepared for what they’ll face.
Despite the winter break, Palace’s squad fell victim to illness, with Jairo Riedewald only recovering in time to make the bench against Newcastle, and Luka Milivojevic missing the match entirely.
“The most important thing for me will be the size of our squad, which is still very small really. It will be a case of how many of these we can get back fully fit and fully ready to go and then we can start thinking about putting a team together for what is going to be another important game.”
“Having lost Luka (Milivojevic) and James Tomkins, with Jeffrey Schlupp and Mamadou Sakho out, we only have Andros Townsend coming back from injury, but having fully fit players like that knocking on the door will make us stronger.”
The Palace manager emphasised just how important the win over Newcastle was, especially with the Brighton game coming up next Saturday.
“This was an important victory that will put us into a much better place preparing for the game next week, and the point is we can’t do anything extra special for it.
“We just have to give the players the same type of information about Brighton as we have given them about Newcastle, to prepare them for the game, who they are and how they play the game.”
Despite that concern about squad fitness, Hodgson has no concerns about the team’s attitude going into the derby fixture.
“The players will not need reminding about the importance of the game for the fans, as I am sure that the Brighton players will not need reminding about the importance of the game for their fans.
“That won’t be a problem at all.”
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