Crystal Palace boss Roy Hodgson is upbeat on Nathan Ferguson's chances of playing first team football this season.

The fullback arrived in 2020 from West Brom, but has struggled with injury ever since.

“I actually got some news today on him, quite good news, that he's actually doing some training with the Academy," said Hodgson.

“He's back and taking part in training sessions. They were even hoping, reasonably soon, to get him back on the field of play and then playing again. It's taken a long time because with all the setbacks and with all the problems, they've had to be extra cautious.

“The good news today was that he's training over there - as we hoped he would - and it's done the trick, in the sense that he's got himself into a position now where they think he could play soon, so that's good news.

“I'd be delighted for him [to see him playing again]. That's the most important thing. I mean, apart from the fact that he's a good player, maybe he can be a big help to the first-team going forward, but if we take that out of the equation, I'm just very, very happy for him - that he must be seen some sort of light at the end of what's been an incredibly dark tunnel."

Hodgson continued: “His negotiation of that tunnel has been incredible, really. To suffer so many setbacks and so many disappointments, at his age - I don't know that many people, quite frankly, that will come through that. So he must be a strong lad, he must be resilient, I like him very much as a person.

“So no one would be happier than any of us out there to see Nathan Ferguson back with the first team 100% fit.

“We would welcome him with open arms, but we have to be cautious, and it's going to be a process, which will probably take a bit longer than next week or the week after."