Frank De Boer's comments on Wilfried Zaha haven't surprised Crystal Palace boss Roy Hodgson.

De Boer, who this season was sacked by the Eagles after just five matches, said that Zaha deserved to be at a bigger club and suggested Liverpool would be a good fit for the winger.

But showing off his experience in management, Hodgson remained diplomatic in his response to De Boer's comments.

"It doesn't bother me at all and it would surprise me if anyone who is asked about Wilf Zaha doesn't say that about him and I would say that about him. I think he's an excellent player," Hodgson said.

"What he has done for Crystal Palace during my short time with the club has been nothing but exceptional and I also know that he did an awful lot for Crystal Palace in the years before I came to the club.

"I think it is up to us, at Crystal Palace, to try to keep improving our team and trying to keep persuading him that he doesn't need to move further afield to get the quality of football he needs and to play at the level that he wants to play at.

"I certainly have nothing against anybody making those positive comments. I would be a little bit more disappointed in a manager who had worked with Wilf Zaha if they didn't say something positive about him."