Roy Hodgson, the manager of Crystal Palace, has explained why Cheick Doucoure was absent from Saturday’s scoreless draw with Nottingham Forest at home.
Under the former England manager, the 23-year-old Mali international has played the entire 90 minutes in each Premier League contest this season.
Dean Henderson, Joel Ward, Jefferson Lerma, Michael Olise, Matheus Franca, and Eberechi Eze were among the other senior Eagles players out injured in addition to Doucoure.
Hodgson remarked, “I was surprised yesterday because Doucoure trained.
He claims that he has been feeling a little worn out since returning from foreign service.
We have not had luck with international duty with Doucoure, Lerma, Olise, and Marc Guehi; it has lost us four players.
“Doucoure trained normally for the whole week; there was no mention of his being worn out or experiencing any kind of soreness or awareness in his muscles.
“It was a harsh blow for the training session to end yesterday, for him to finish the practise, and then to find out only a few minutes later that he wasn’t available.
It made us reevaluate and redesign.
Eberechi Eze’s injury was disclosed by Crystal Palace manager Roy Hodgson, who, in our opinion at least, may now give David Ozoh his complete Premier League debut.
Speaking at a news conference before his team’s Premier League matchup against Nottingham Forest was Crystal Palace boss.
What’s new with Eberechi Eze at Crystal Palace, and how would David Ozoh, a graduate of the academy, start if he is injured? Let’s look at this…
Eberechi Eze, a standout for Crystal Palace, is hurt
It seemed like the Eagles’ victory against Manchester United would have been ideal for them to generate momentum going into their game against Nottingham Forest.
Following what Roy Hodgson said about Eze at his news conference today, the atmosphere could have changed a little.
According to Hodgson, who was quoted by journalist Edmund Brack, “Yes, he has a hamstring issue. This wound is severe.
The loss of the Eagles’ talisman Eze is a significant blow, and although the match against Nottingham Forest will now be extremely difficult, Ozoh could get a chance.
David Ozoh has already made two appearances for Palace’s first team. By coming off the bench, former manager Patrick Vieira gave him his professional debut. Hodgson most recently used him off the bench against Manchester United in the Carabao Cup.
The centre midfielder looked excellent and shown some promise in that game. He didn’t appear out of place in the face of formidable competition.
Ozoh had a chance to score as well, and he would have been disappointed to miss the goal. He missed, and I’m sure that’s in part because he jumped at the chance.
Hodgson is limited in his choices as a result of the injuries to the midfielders Eze and Jefferson Lerma. As a result of the injury issues, it seems like a match at Selhurst Park would be ideal for Ozoh to make his entire Premier League debut.
