Crystal Palace manager Roy Hodgson has admitted that summer signing Cheikhou Kouyate isn’t getting enough playing time because of the amount of competition for a starting spot, according to a report on Goal.

The 28-year-old left West Ham United to join the Eagles in the summer transfer window but has found it difficult to break into the starting lineup.

The Senegal international midfielder has only played 20 minutes in the Premier League this season and Hodgson believes it’s because there’s a lot of competition for places in his side.

Christopher Lee/Getty Images Sport

The manager said:

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.

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.

James McArthur and Luca Milivojevic have held down their starting positions well so far this season so Kouyate must prove to Hodgson that he is worthy of taking their place.

Palace visit Huddersfield Town tomorrow and Kouyate will be hoping to get some more minutes in the league.

Do you think that Kouyate should start against Huddersfield?

Yes

No