Crystal Palace boss Roy Hodgson admits he's been impressed by Cheick Doucoure since his return.

Doucoure arrived in the summer and has quickly won over Hodgson.

The manager said: "He is very good: a very nice person, a very good player – a very serious player.

“He is getting better. It's his first season in the Premier League, and he is constantly coming to terms with different challenges thrown up each week by the different Premier League teams we meet.

“I am more than satisfied with him. He has got that quality that one is looking for from a central midfield player either in a two or a three.

“Like the other players we are talking about, there is a good margin in these players to constantly get better. They will only get better in two ways: by being professional and disciplined in the work they put in between matches every week to prepare for matches, and then learning from each match they play and taking any experiences from that to put in their memory bank as they will make them stronger.

“[Cheick's] English is getting a lot better which is also useful, and he is a very popular member of the squad. The lad has got a lot going for him.

“How far these players go depends on them. There is no real reason why they should feel anything holding them back. They are getting chances. We have trust in them, we have faith in them.

“It is up to them now to have faith and trust in themselves and put in the good performances that will have you guys writing good things about them."