Roy Hodgson: Bakary Sako can play as a striker

Crystal Palace attacker Bakary Sako

Sunday Nov 26, 2017. 09:00

Crystal Palace manager Roy Hodgson has revealed that he plans on playing Malian winger Bakary Sako as a striker.

With the Eagles fighting against the prospect of relegation from the Premier League, former England manager Hodgson is looking for creative solutions to improve the team’s attack.

The return from injury of Belgian striker Christian Benteke is certainly a major boost, as is the continued excellence of Ivory Coast attacker Wilfried Zaha.

And rather than spend millions of pounds in the January transfer window to boost their striker options, Palace manager Hodgson reckons Sako is showing signs in training of being able to switch to a centre-forward.

"Sako has made enormous strides as a forward,” said the veteran manager.

“He sees himself as a left-winger, but we have actually been doing a lot of work with him as a centre-forward and he is a player who has definitely shown in the training sessions he is really picking up on what we are looking for."