Crystal Palace striker Jordan Ayew waxed lyrical about his boss Roy Hodgson for helping in his development as a player.
The duo started working together in the 2018/19 season where Ayew was sent to the Eagles on loan.
He failed to impress, netting just once in 20 league games but Hodgson gave him another chance to improve himself after a stellar Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) campaign in 2019 with Black Stars.
The 28-year-old has been spectacular since then. The former Marseille forward netted nine goals in 37 league matches last season, the highest in the team.
He was also adjudged Crystal Palace’s player of the season, Players’ Player of the season and clinched the Goal of the season award at the club.
Jordan revealed that Hodgson improved his efficiency in front of goal.
"First of all, I would like to thank him [Roy Hodgson], the staff and the board as well. During the training sessions, even if on the weekend things weren't going the way we all wanted, I was showing good things so I think that is what pushed them to make it permanent,” he informed the Ghanaian media.
“I fought hard and it forced him to give me the opportunity to prove myself week in week out. He has been really good to me.”
“He has brought efficiency in my game and made me understand that football is all about efficiency and of course I understood that if I have two chances, I have to make sure that at least one goes in because we are in a team where we don't create much opportunities so we really needed to be clinical.”
He also noted that his mentality changed right before the AFCON and it contributed to the upturn in his form.
“Before I went for the AFCON, I realized that I had to change my mentality. I had to change a lot of things that I was doing previously and I think it paid off. In life, you get to a certain age and you start thinking differently and you start to look at yourself and ask yourself what you have to change and improve," he said.
“I think it's my mentality that changed a lot and the manager saw it. I thank God because things went really well. I didn't expect it but like I said its life when you work hard, you will get rewarded. I am using the same routines I used before the AFCON till now so I think it is the right direction for me and I'm sticking to that direction.”
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