MARC Guehi admitted it was a huge bonus having Roy Hodgson fit and well again to manage Crystal Palace from the dugout in Saturday’s 0-0 draw with Fulham.
The Eagles boss missed the previous weekend’s 3-1 defeat at Aston Villa after taking ill in the build up to the game and attending hospital for a series of precautionary tests.
Thankfully they revealed nothing untoward and the veteran manager was back on the touchline to see his Eagles side share the spoils with another of his former clubs.
Saturday’s game isn’t one likely to live long in the memory for anybody at Selhurst Park, but for Guehi it was just a big relief to have Hodgson issuing instructions again.
The defender said: “It is great to have him back. He is adamant that he was feeling ok even when he wasn’t there.
“We are just glad he could be with us today.
“He is an inspiration for all of us.
“We see him every single day in training.
“Him, his staff and the work they are doing behind the scenes – the enthusiasm they show each and every day is fantastic.
“It just makes us want to play for him more and try and win games.
“He has been fantastic with me and I can’t praise him enough for his help and for his wisdom.
“I just feel like I can take every bit of experience that he has had from the game and apply it to my own game.”
Guehi also returned against Fulham having missed the Villa clash after picking up a minor injury which forced him off during an impressive England display against Scotland.
The Lewisham youngster earned rave reviews for his composed performance at a hostile Hampden Park but is keeping his feet firmly on the ground despite all the plaudits.
“I took it with a pinch of salt as always because football is a sport that is very quick where things can happen in a split second,” he explained.
“I’m extremely grateful to God for his help and extremely grateful to the manager and his team for showing so much faith in me.
“Like I say, a pinch of salt. It is about each and every day trying to improve and just going from there.
“It is hard to think about that type of stuff (Euro 24).
“Today was a game against Fulham, so it is just a day at a time really for me.
“It was a fantastic experience with England and long may it continue.”
Crystal Palace now face two trips in the space of five days against Manchester United, starting with tomorrow’s Carabao Cup tie before Saturday’s Premier League encounter with the Red Devils.
Erik ten Hag’s side haven’t made the best of starts but Guehi doesn’t subscribe to the view this is a good time to play them.
He said: “It doesn’t really matter, it is Manchester United.
“They’ve got so much quality and we need to be ready for that.
“It is what it is. I’m not going to complain but it has not been very kind to us having to travel up to Manchester twice but we have to get on with it.”
Saturday’s scoreless draw was the second time in three home games Palace have drawn a blank in front of goal in SE25, although Guehi was unconcerned when asked about that stat.
“Not at all,” he said.
“The work is being done behind the scenes and it is definitely going to continue to allow us to try and improve in all areas of the game.
“It was a stalemate today where both teams did well to cancel each other out. It is a point and hopefully we can improve on that in the next game.
“The start to the season has been ok.
“As a player, you always want to improve and do a bit better.
“It has been steady but now we need to try and push on.”
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