‘Improved enormously’ – Crystal Palace boss praises Ghanaian forward

BY ANDREW MCSTEEN

Crystal Palace boss Roy Hodgson has praised striker Jordan Ayew after the Ghana international opened the scoring for the Eagles on Saturday in their 4-3 win at home to West Ham.

His 15th-minute strike set the tone for an eventual three points for the South London outfit, which capped off an all-round performance for the forward who was also influential in the passage of play leading to the eventual game-winning penalty from Eberechi Eze.

Hodgson has seen a difference in the player in his second spell at the club after his first as manager from 2017 until 2021.

“He was always strong, he was always good at holding off challenges, he was very difficult to take the ball from and he was a good dribbler,” said Hodgson about his forward.

“But he’s added to his game. He’s added the awareness of what’s around him and when maybe it’s not the right time to attempt the dribble or the turn and to do something else, which is a great compliment to him. Also, of course, he’s scored some goals.”

In his 37 appearances this season under previous boss Patrick Vieira, Ayew registered just one goal, but has now scored three in the last six under Hodgson with the Palace manager aware of what the player could be possible of.

“Unfortunately, we didn’t have that sort of return from him in the 150-odd games I had (previously),” said Hodgson. “If he continued like [he has now], it would give him something like 12 or 13 goals a year.

“I can’t praise Jordan enough. His game has improved enormously.”