Crystal Palace manager Roy Hodgson believes Michy Batshuayi could start in the team’s FA Cup fifth-round fixture against Doncaster Rovers this weekend.
The Eagles boss spoke to the media ahead of his side’s clash with the lower-league opposition and discussed whether or not his new loan signing would feature.
Hodgson, as quoted by Reuters, was keen to avoid giving anything away about his proposed starting line-up but stated that Batshuayi could indeed make his full Palace debut. He said:
I have not decided on that yet but it could happen. He is a very lively character and is pleased to be back in London.
He knows some of the other players, they’ve made him feel welcome in training and in the matches he’s played so far. He has been everything we hoped he would be.
The Belgian international completed a late switch to Crystal Palace on the final day of the January transfer window. After struggling on loan at Valencia in the first half of the campaign, he will be determined to flourish in South London.
Batshuayi made substitute appearances against Fulham and West Ham in the Eagles’ most recent Premier League outings but has not yet started a match.
However, the Chelsea player appears to be in line to feature for his new loan club when they bid to progress to the quarter-finals of the FA Cup with a win against Doncaster.
