---
title: "Hodgson likely to continue Townsend-Zaha pairing"
canonical: "https://readcrystalpalace.com/2019/01/30/hodgson-likely-to-continue-townsend-zaha-pairing/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Rebecca Hawksworth"
section: "Crystal Palace News"
published: "2019-01-30T15:01:36Z"
modified: "2019-01-30T15:02:13Z"
---

# Hodgson likely to continue Townsend-Zaha pairing

Crystal Palace manager Roy Hodgson may continue to play without a recognised striker this season, even though both Christian Benteke and Connor Wickham has returned to full fitness for the Eagles, the [Evening Standard](https://www.standard.co.uk/sport/football/crystalpalace/crystal-palace-wide-boys-centre-stage-despite-christian-benteke-connor-wickham-returns-a4052931.html) reports.

With both strikers spending the majority of this season on the sidelines and Jordan Ayew being the only centre-forward available to manager Roy Hodgson, the former England manager has opted to play the majority of fixtures with Andros Townsend and Wilfried Zaha down the middle.

![Bryn Lennon/Getty Images Sport](https://media.readcrystalpalace.com/readcrystalpalace/sites/17/2019/01/1125406213.jpg)

Zaha and Townsend both usually play out wide on the wing but the shortage of centre-forwards has seen them take a more central role this season.

The pair could be set to continue their central roles for Palace despite Wickham and Benteke now having returned to full match fitness.

The Zaha-Townsend pairing proved pivotal in helping Palace secure their Premier League status at the back-end of last season and it appears likely that Hodgson will continue to set his side up with that same formation.

The Palace manager said:

> We mustn’t forgot last season was a very good season and that was basically down to those two guys \[Townsend and Zaha\].

> Forty four points after the start we had, that was a fantastic achievement and hopefully the fact we have more competition now and players who are capable of being focal points, we will get up to that points total again.

![Bryn Lennon/Getty Images Sport](https://media.readcrystalpalace.com/readcrystalpalace/sites/17/2019/01/1125405572.jpg)

> But until such time as that happens, I will be a bit careful about what I say about the current centre-forwards who are vying for position.

> You might find towards the end of the season that Wilf and Andros are my favourite two again because I know what they can do.

> They can keep us in the league, they can do what they did last year, which was incredible.