Roy Hodgson issues ‘very impressive’ Adam Wharton verdict after Crystal Palace debut.

This evening’s Premier League match between Crystal Palace and Chelsea will be viewed as a must-win for Roy Hodgson, who has faced challenges in his time as the Eagles’ manager.

The 76-year-old acknowledged to the media prior to the game that this is the “toughest period” of his management career to date as Palace struggles to maintain fan faith in the project in the face of conflicts between the board and supporters.

Although Hodgson’s future at Selhurst Park won’t necessarily be determined by the outcome of tonight’s match, a solid showing will be necessary to win back the confidence of their fervently supportive supporters following last week’s humiliating loss to Brighton.

The Eagles have had a deluge of injuries lately, with players like Marc Guehi, Michael Olise, Ecke chi Eze, and Cheick Doucoure out of the running, giving the management little talent to work with right now.

Though it may seem like everything is bad in South London right now, Hodgson gave a favorable assessment of one of his January acquisitions, expressing his confidence in Adam Wharton, a 20-year-old who may make his debut in full against Chelsea.

“We used to refer to a linkman while we were assembling our teams. Someone who is frequently not the strongest or fastest player on the field, but who was always there and could make the play work.