‘No question of that’ – Palace boss Hodgson believes defender still has a lot to offer at Premier League level
Crystal Palace boss Roy Hodgson believes that Joel Ward has shown he still has a lot to offer the club in the Premier League – but says he has no influence on whether the defender gets a new deal with the South Londoners.
The 33-year-old has started every game under the former England manager since he replaced Patrick Vieira until the end of the season.
Right-back Ward, who joined the club in the Championship 2012 in a deal worth in the region of £400,000 from Portsmouth, has reached a decade of service at Selhurst Park.
Ward has made 331 appearances for the Eagles, scoring five goals and recording 10 assists.
He is out of contract in the summer after signing a one-year extension at the end of last season.
“He’s definitely shown that – there is no question of that. He has been good for a long period of time.
“He was good in live games on the television. I didn’t see him live or work with him, but he was good when I saw him play.
“He is every bit as good, if not better, since I last worked with him, as he was very good in the four years I was here – he was the regular right-back.
“He hardly missed a game. He’s evergreen – there is no question of that. But it will be up the club and himself when it comes to discussing a new contract.
“I don’t feel it’s in my remit at the moment to get involved in it. He’s been a wonderful servant and is still a very, very good player.
“I see it and I’m pretty sure Steve Parish and Dougie Freedman – the people that make the decision – see it too.
“But they see things in a wider context, which I don’t see.”
PICTURE: KEITH GILLARD
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