MX23RW : Wednesday, December 23 04:07:41| >> :120:63384:63384:

Roy Hodgson credits "selfish" streak for Wilfried Zaha's goalscoring form

Roy Hodgson credits
© Reuters
Wilfried Zaha has already fired seven goals in 12 Premier League matches this term.

Roy Hodgson believes Wilfried Zaha's new "selfish" streak has helped the Crystal Palace forward boost his Selhurst Park goal tally.

Zaha has already fired seven goals in 12 Premier League matches this term, while he could muster just four in the entirety of last season.

And Palace boss Hodgson has hailed the Ivory Coast star for honing in on the most important elements of his craft in order to rise up the scoring charts.

"I think Wilf has come to the conclusion that if he's going to score more goals he needs to be a bit more selfish, he needs to be a bit more focused on just that aspect of the game," said Hodgson.

West Bromwich Albion v Crystal Palace – Premier League – The Hawthorns
Palace boss Roy Hodgson, pictured, has been pleased with forward Wilfried Zaha's form this season (Mike Egerton/PA)

"And maybe that impacts on the amount of dribbling he's had.

"But the fact is we have a guy we rate very, very highly, we appreciate all of his skills, not least his dribbling skills.

"And I think as the years go by with the experience he gets, the more games he gets under his belt, the more he realises what are the most important things for him to do to advance his career, we're seeing a better and better player."

Palace will head to West Ham on Wednesday night seeking to build on a run of three wins and a draw in their last seven league matches.

Goalkeeper Vicente Guaita pulled off a string of fine saves in Sunday's 1-1 draw with league leaders Tottenham but was also at fault for Harry Kane's strike.

Eagles boss Hodgson insisted he has never doubted Guaita's class in light of that solitary error, with the 33-year-old still the club's number one keeper.

"He's been consistently good throughout my time at the club," said Hodgson.

"I'm afraid all goalkeepers are going to get a situation where the ball does something unusual like the Kane shot that swerved past him.

"But he's certainly made up for that many, many times over.

"His performances in my time at the club have been very, very consistent, so I've never felt we need to question his ability or his place in the team."

ID:426626:cQx

Click here for more stories about Roy Hodgson

Click here for more stories about Crystal Palace

Share this article now:
Did you know...?
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp pictured on November 22, 2020
Read Next:
Premier League gameweek 13 predictions including Liverpool vs. Tottenham Hotspur
>
Latest Sports Video
Sports Mole Logo
Enter your email address to subscribe to Sports Mole's free daily transfer newsletter! Sent twice a day during the transfer window.

rhs 2.0
Todays Game Header Right
Tables
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Liverpool1494136191731
2Leicester CityLeicester149052617927
3Manchester UnitedMan Utd138232821726
4Everton148242519626
5Chelsea1474329141525
6Tottenham HotspurSpurs1474325141125
7Southampton147342519624
8Manchester CityMan City136521912723
9Aston Villa1271424131122
10West Ham UnitedWest Ham146352119221
11Wolverhampton WanderersWolves146261419-520
12Newcastle UnitedNewcastle135351722-518
13Crystal Palace145361925-618
14Leeds UnitedLeeds145272430-617
15Arsenal144281218-614
16Burnley13346819-1113
17Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton142661622-612
18Fulham142481323-1010
19West Bromwich AlbionWest Brom141491029-197
20Sheffield UnitedSheff Utd140212825-172

Subscribe to our Newsletter


Transfer Talk Daily
Match previews - twice weekly
Morning Briefing (7am UTC)
Ultra close-up image of Kevin De Bruyne [NOT FOR USE IN ARTICLES]Get the latest transfer news, match previews and news direct to your inbox!