January 31st 2024.
Crystal Palace secured a 3-2 win over Sheffield United on Tuesday evening, thanks in part to an impressive performance from Michael Olise. However, manager Roy Hodgson was quick to downplay any concerns about the young midfielder's health, as well as that of his teammate Eberechi Eze.
Despite being plagued by hamstring issues this season, Olise managed to provide the assists for both of Eze's goals in the first half before scoring a spectacular goal of his own in the 67th minute. However, just minutes after his goal, Olise was substituted due to concerns about his fitness. Eze also had to be taken off in the 78th minute after experiencing some discomfort in his hamstring.
But Hodgson assured fans that Olise's injury was not serious and that the decision to start him was a calculated risk. "We were a bit hesitant about starting Michael, given his recent injury history, but he was adamant that he was ready to go. We just had to make sure he didn't push himself too hard and risk further injury," the manager explained.
Unfortunately, Eze's injury was a bit more concerning, as it occurred during a powerful run in the box. However, Hodgson remained hopeful that it was simply a result of fatigue and not a serious injury. "We won't know the full extent of Eze's injury until he's been fully assessed, but we're keeping our fingers crossed that it's nothing too serious. He put in a lot of hard work during the game, so it could just be a case of tiredness," he shared.
And while Hodgson is a fan of both Olise and Eze, he also has their best interests at heart. "As a Palace fan, I'm hoping both of them will be fit and ready for our next match, but we need to make sure we don't push them too hard and risk their long-term health. They seemed optimistic after the game, so hopefully they'll both be available for our upcoming match," he said.
In the end, Hodgson's decision to start Olise and Eze paid off, as Palace now sit six points clear of the relegation zone. But the manager knows that their contributions will be crucial in their future matches as well. "Having both of them on the pitch definitely improves our chances of getting a result, so we'll be keeping a close eye on their progress and making sure they are ready to go for our next game," he concluded.
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