Crystal Palace confident Roy Hodgson will be able to attend matches when Premier League resumes

Game on: Palace expect Hodgson, 72, to get the green light when football returns
AFP via Getty Images

Crystal Palace are confident that manager Roy Hodgson will face no issues attending games when football finally resumes.

At 72, the oldest manager in Premier League history, the Eagles boss falls into the government's category of high risk and "clinically vulnerable" people. However, yesterday Matt Hancock, the health secretary, insisted there was no "blanket ban" on over-70s leaving their homes.

Palace have always been confident that, given the circumstances in which football will return, behind closed doors with regular testing, there would be little problem with Hodgson returning to work.

The Eagles squad are returning to training this week, with individual sessions on the pitches at their Copers Cope Road training ground.

Chairman Steve Parish is keen to see the season resume, and has warned the game might never recover from the pandemic if the Premier League cannot manage the return properly.

"There are no easy answers, but we need to try to play if we can make it safe," Parish told The Times.

"I believe we can and should continue, however imperfect the other elements: neutral venues, empty stadia etc. If we can't make it work then I fear for next season. The game might never fully recover."

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