Crystal Palace boss Roy Hodgson makes Marc Guehi admission amid future captaincy claim

Crystal Palace boss Roy Hodgson says he should not have tipped Marc Guehi to be a future England captain after his team’s 5-1 win over Leeds United at the weekend.

Guehi has been a massive success since signing on from Chelsea in the summer of 2021 and was the one who drew his side level at Elland Road before the likes of Odsonne Edouard, Eberechi Eze and Jordan Ayew took the game away from the hosts.

Hodgson has been impressed with Guehi’s maturity and ability on and off the field but says his initial comments about the defender being a future England captain might have been rushed and just wants to allow him develop at his own pace.

The 75-year-old Hodgson said: “I was England manager for four years and it used to drive me crazy when managers gave their players an extra pat on the back by saying they should play for England.

“It would not surprise me, with the guy’s quality. But let’s just let him play football first and continue being a top, top Premier League player at Crystal Palace. Let’s see how long that lasts. Lets see when his first England matches take place and go on from there.

“I’m sorry Marc, I shouldn’t have given you that little pat on the back which I gave, by suggesting England captaincy!.

“His maturity has impressed me. It did when he was (on loan) at Swansea and we were hoping we could sign him. Doug (Freedman) and I were watching him. He’s an intelligent player who thinks a lot about his game.”

Since Guehi joined Palace in 2021, he’s made 65 Premier League appearances for the Eagles, scored three league goals and helped the team kept 16 clean sheets.