Crystal Palace manager Roy Hodgson has more or less suggested that Jeff Schlupp is ahead of Eberechi Eze in the pecking order of left midfielders and wingers at the club.

The former Queens Park Rangers star has started only two Premier League games in the new season - against Everton and Chelsea - only because Schlupp was sidelined through injury.

And the Anglo-Nigerian's four other appearances came off the bench when he replaced the Ghana national teamer in matches against Southampton, Manchester United, Fulham and Wolverhampton Wanderers.

Though he has shown glimpses of his potential, Eze has done little to help his own cause of a regular starting spot with no goals or assists for the Eagles in seven matches across all competitions.

In quotes carried by London News Online, Hodgson explained : "Once again it’s [about] competition. Jeff Schlupp isn’t exactly anything other than a very good attacking left-sided midfield player.

"So I had to make choices there. I’ve not been able to fit both in the team together – especially with the form of Andros Townsend on the other side.

"It’s been nothing more complicated than that. But again, like Jairo Riedewald, he has been excellent in training. He’s done really, really well. He’s impressed everybody – not just with his ability but his attitude and professionalism.

"His chance, I’m sure, will come very, very soon."

While Eze has logged 228 minutes in the Premier League, his main rival for a starting spot Schlupp was in action for 385 minutes in five starts.

Ifeanyi Emmanuel