ROY Hodgson says Matheus Franca is available for selection for Crystal Palace ahead of tomorrow’s trip to Newcastle United.
The Brazilian winger has yet to make an appearance for the Eagles since joining from Flamengo this summer to replace Wilfried Zaha.
A back injury ensured the 19-year-old’s earliest experiences of life in SE25 were spent on the treatment table, but now he could potentially be unleashed against moneybags Newcastle at St James’ Park.
“He is a candidate,” confirmed Selhurst chief Hodgson.
“Training is training. We don’t see him in games.
“He’s going to have to get into either the first team – either he knocks someone off their perch and gets into the team, or gets on as a substitute – or we need to watch him in an U23 game.
“Because at the moment as far as we are concerned, the coaching staff, what we’ve seen are the highlights of his matches in Flamengo.
“But we still wait. We need to see the evidence that he is a player in a team environment, but in training he is fine.
“He works hard and does the right thing.
“I think he is coming to terms with the way we try to work.
“He is getting to know his team-mates and most importantly of all, he has been extremely good I think in picking up the language so quickly, and to be able to understand all the things we are saying to him and asking from him.”
Franca’s ability to adapt to life in a completely new environment has certainly impressed Hodgson, a manager with plenty of experience working abroad.
The Palace boss said: “His English has improved quicker than I thought and I was entitled to expect.
“He is obviously quite bright.
“When we train, he understands the exercises, the drills, he understands the information we are giving him.
“Now it is a question of him when he gets his chance to get on the field of play and show how good he is.
“That’s when he will have to take chance because that’s what really playing professional football is all about.”
Franca was in big demand this summer and Palace saw off fierce competition from the likes of Chelsea to seal the deal.
Hopes are certainly high from Palace fans about just how good Franca could prove to be, but Hodgson points out youth is still a big factor with the Brazilian.
He added: “People shouldn’t forget he is 19 years of age, so it’s not going to be a question of in a week or two he is going to become Lionel Messi.
“That’s not the way it works.
“But as a 19-year-old he is making good progress, as I would say are people like David Ozoh and Jes Rak-Sakyi. I would put them in exactly the same category.”
