Crystal Palace manager Roy Hodgson says Max Meyer and Cheikhou Kouyate are struggling to play due to stiff competition.

The pair were signed this summer with much fanfare. Palace beat out the likes of Arsenal and Liverpool for Meyer's signature, while Kouyate surprisingly made the switch from West Ham.

"Both Max Meyer and Cheikhou Kouyate are players that we have brought in, as well as Jordan Ayew who made his first-team debut from the start against Southampton, and we have been very happy with all three of them," Hodgson said in a pre-match conference.

"Max and Cheik are in my opinion ready at any moment to go in, but up to now the other players who have kept them out have done a good job so the competition is very healthy.

"Everyone knows that the positions are contested now, and if you want to keep your place in the team then you have to perform every week."