Crystal Palace boss Roy Hodgson is delighted with the form of Jairo Riedewald.

Riedewald was man-of-the-match for their draw against Arsenal on Saturday.

Hodgson revealed, "We don't have any natural left-back cover and we don't have any natural right-back cover and I knew that I was going into a season with two good fullbacks - right and left - but if either of them got injured, it was a different story.

"Turns out of course both get injured and both get injured at the same time. I remember talking to Jairo, saying: 'Don't you think you could play left-back?' He was very reticent about that, virtually saying: 'No, I don't think I can. I won't be able to do that job.'"

However, since shifting back to the left side of defence, Riedewald has earned plaudits from fans and his manager alike, with his confidence on the ball and ability to carry it forward standing out.

Hodgson continued: "I actually said to him the other day: 'I did tell you, I knew you could do that job.' We've always known there's a very good footballer there but we've not been able to find a place for him or a home for him in the team. Now we've found a home for him and he's playing on a regular basis, and with every game I think he gets better.

"I'm delighted with him but I'm also delighted for him, because he's been a model professional for the last two and a half seasons. He's always training, always doing his job properly, never complaining.

"He's disappointed of course that the coach - i.e. me - doesn't play him in the team, he's entitled to be disappointed. But he's fully understanding of the fact that I have a choice to make and that choice has gone elsewhere, so I'll get on with my job. Hats off to him."