Crystal Palace Manager Hodgson Confirms Olise’s Absence Due to Injury Ahead of Everton Clash
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Crystal Palace v Liverpool Premier League, Selhurst Park, 09 December 2023 Picture : Keith Gillard
Roy Hodgson has officially ruled out Michael Olise’s participation in Crystal Palace’s upcoming Emirates FA Cup third-round match against Everton.
During the pre-match press conference, Hodgson provided insight, stating, “The injuries haven’t changed much for the ones who have been out for a period of time. As you probably saw in the game against Brentford, Michael Olise had to come off right at the end. Unfortunately, he won’t take part in this game.”
Addressing Olise’s hamstring issue, Hodgson added, “We’ll have to nurse him through and hope he gets back as soon as possible. For how long is he out? I can’t answer that one, I’m afraid.”
When asked about Olise’s response to the setback, Hodgson commented on his character, saying, “It [his character] is good. We’re hoping this one won’t be like the one that put him out of the game for nearly six months. It’s another little setback that I’m sure he and we would not have liked.”
Reflecting on Olise’s recent standout performances, Hodgson expressed disappointment about the timing of the injury, stating, “After his last two performances, which were so good, we were hoping he’d be stepping out tomorrow and treating us again to another great exhibition of football.”
However, Hodgson remained optimistic about the team’s outlook, emphasizing, “Let’s not put too much of a dampener on what’s going to happen going forward. There’s plenty of games left to play in this season, we’ve got another 18 league matches to play, and we’re hoping he’s going to be there to help us.”
Delving into the contributions of Palace’s goalscorers in the recent win against Brentford, Hodgson praised Olise and Ebere Eze, calling them “excellent.” He highlighted Olise’s exceptional performances and expressed sadness over his injury, adding, “Ebere Eze has had a season somewhat hampered by injuries, but it’s good to see him back and looking to regain his top form.”
Hodgson concluded by emphasizing the importance of having key players like Olise and Eze, stating, “All teams, whether fighting to win the league or to stay in the league, need their best players, and there’s no doubt that those two are very much in that category.”
