Roy Hodgson says that he cannot speak highly enough of James McArthur, and would be delighted if the Crystal Palace midfielder followed him into football management. Palace centre-back Gary Cahill recently pointed to McArthur and teammate Scott Dann as the two players currently in the dressing room who stand out to him as future managers, and Hodgson agreed with the defender’s assertion.
Roy Hodgson said: “Yeah, absolutely. I’ve certainly got nothing to say in opposition to that – far from it, I rather hope that when they finish their playing careers – which they’ve still got a few years left to run – I’d be delighted to see them join us in the world of coaching and management and taking the tough route to staying in football, rather than the management/agent route which is sometimes a little bit less painful because you don’t lose any games, and the same with the punditry route. So I’d be delighted for those two if that’s what they want to do. I don’t think they’ll be the only ones. I’d like to think they won’t be the only two. Although I haven’t given it any thought, so don’t ask me to come with further names because it’s not something I occupy my time with thinking about. But when the day comes, I’m certain I’ll be the first to drop them a line and congratulate them.”
Hodgson says that he has always valued players like McArthur, not just for their abilities as footballers, but for the desire and commitment shown.
Roy Hodgson added: “You can’t speak highly enough about a player like James McArthur. Quality teams have got a guy of that type in their squad. But as far as I’m concerned, in all the squads that I’ve had over the years, I’ve always valued people like James McArthur. Not only for that [wanting to play all the time] but also for their ability. Because this is a man who brings his ability and brings what he has to give to the team every week. This is the longest spell in my four years at the club that I can remember him being injured. It’s hurting him all the time and the medical team have constantly got to put the reins on, otherwise he’d be out there when he’s not fit enough to be out there.”
