In-form Malian star Sako keen to stay at Crystal Palace

by Austin Ditlhobolo

Saturday Jan 13, 2018. 10:00

Mali international Bakary Sako wants to stay at English Premier League side Crystal Palace despite having six months left on his contract.

The midfielder is currently enjoying his football under Palace manager Roy Hodgson having

scored five goals in 16 appearances, all as a substitute, this season.
"Yes, of course. Of course, of course," Sako said on Goal.com.

"I am just enjoying my football at the moment, so I am not really focused on my contract situation.

"It's not about my personal situation, I just want to help the team and we'll see at the end of the season. Fingers crossed I am injury-free now and I am enjoying my football.

"I have had to recover properly after training and matches, to do things right,” he continued.

"I was doing that before but I was just unlucky. I don't know why I was getting injured but now I am really happy."

"I have been injured a lot, so the manager has been playing me up front, so right now I am really enjoying it and it's good for me.

"I was happy with my performance at Brighton but unhappy we got knocked out as a team there.

On being converted to a striker by manager Hodgson, from his default role as a winger, Sako said: "I have been more of a winger before, so this position is new for me.
"The manager here has been helping me a lot playing up front and I am now starting to get used to it.

"I still have to learn some things but I am trying to do it right."