Crystal Palace manager Roy Hodgson has revealed that the limited game time afforded to Cheikhou Kouyate is as a result of the stiff competition for places in his squad.
The Senegal international has only gotten 20 minutes of Premier League action this season since he joined Palace from West Ham United in July.
And the former England boss has explained that although the midfielder along with Max Meyer are raring to go, the other players' performances ‘have kept them out’.
“Both Max Meyer and Cheikhou Kouyate are players that we have brought in, as well as Jordan Ayew who made his first-team debut from the start against Southampton, and we have been very happy with all three of them,” Hodgson said in a pre-match conference.
"Max and Cheik are in my opinion ready at any moment to go in, but up to now the other players who have kept them out have done a good job so the competition is very healthy.
“Everyone knows that the positions are contested now, and if you want to keep your place in the team then you have to perform every week.”
Crystal Palace take on Huddersfield Town on Saturday at John Smith's Stadium and Kouyate will be looking to get more minutes under his belt.
