Raheem Sterling can repay me by playing badly, jokes Roy Hodgson
Roy Hodgson he hopes it means he will go easy on Crystal Palace that weekend and thought in Manchester City forward Raheem Sterling.
Palace sponsor the Premier League champions at Selhurst Park on Saturday in a 5.30pm kick-off – live on Sky Sports Premier League – using Pep Guardiolas side in need of a response after losing at home to Wolves last time out.
Liverpool are eight points clear of City and in-form Sterling will probably be eager to follow up his brace when he comes up against his old international manager.
Hodgson passed the winger his international debut at age 17 and stuck during some tricky times with the 3 Lions by Sterling.
That is all in the past obeying a record of 13 goals in 15 appearances in all competitions for club and country this year and a body for England and City.
He was always a fantastic midfielder, a quite difficult worker, made great runs the majority of the moment. I remember in Switzerlandhe played in behind the front gamers, such as he had been for Liverpool, and he was quite exceptional, Hodgson said.
The criticism levelled at him was my displeasure along with the attention he was getting elsewhere from social media and at times the press itself was draining his assurance.
I think that the major thing for Raheem is that theres no drain in his confidence, there is no doubt about his ability. Obviously hes playing with a group that is creating a lot of opportunities so when he puts in the regions he is able to score goals.
On this subject too, I must add that his maturity as a individual has been very fascinating to watch.
All the responsibility hes accepted and not just as a Manchester City player but shouldering a heavy burden with all the racism and the attention thats being paid for the racism problem that weve got.
He has been a brilliant spokesperson. I heap praise on him in the hope hell repay me by playing very poorly.
The hosts are still among the kind teams in the division, while City enter this game with defeats to Norwich and Wolves still fresh in the memory card.
Palace are in the table – two things off the winners – after winning four of the past six league matches.
Yet Hodgson insisted:I do not know that Pep needs to be concerned about any group but it will be fine if they felt that they had to show us any respect.
We all know well be stretched to the limit to provide them the sort of game we all want to provide them but its a challenge and its a thrilling challenge.
Despite turning 72 Hodgson confessed but conceded he would understand when is the right moment to call it, he gets great pleasure from handling.
I will continue if that is the ideal thing to do. I am going to need to be convinced when the time comes that it is the perfect thing to do and something I can contribute to and provide me the satisfaction that the previous few seasons have, Hodgson added.
At the moment Im quite comfortable waiting to see what transpires but I am not prepared to place a date on the day once I am going to say soccer was good to me and I shall move aside and allow someone else have a go.
You might argue in the very long run you should be prepared to move aside but nevertheless I feel I can get it done. I enjoy it, I get so much pleasure out of this job. I wont walk away voluntarily.
Palace will probably be without Mamadou Sakho (thigh) and Connor Wickham for the trip City.
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