As the Crystal Palace winger accelerates his recovery from hamstring surgery, Roy Hodgson has been questioned over a development regarding Michael Olise’s ailment.
In France’s U21 European Championship victory against Norway in June, Olise sustained a grade three rupture.
When he returned to Selhurst Park, the 21-year-old was had to have hamstring surgery.
He rejected Chelsea’s interest in the summer and agreed to a new contract with the Eagles.
When the former Reading playmaker will be eligible for selection this year is not yet known.
In the days leading up to Palace’s trip to Aston Villa, Hodgson, 76, remarked, “It’s going as the medical people told me that it probably would go.”
“I was given a very clear sense of what we had to look at when he returned from France with that quite critical injury and had to be operated on.
We are in that situation, and things are developing accordingly.
After Hodgson succeeded Patrick Vieira as manager of England and Liverpool, Olise amassed six assists in ten appearances.
He produced 11 assists in the previous season, making him the only Palace player to ever achieve double digits in a single Premier League season.
Hodgson continued, “He’s such a fantastic talent.
For a football enthusiast, seeing him play in games and even on the practise pitch is a thrill.
Being able to see him play is enjoyable. When he returns, I will be overjoyed.
He will strengthen our team dynamic and provide entertainment. He will also make the audience members who come to see us play very happy.
That is what the top players do for you, I guess.