Eagles defender Kelly admits Hazard is toughest opponent
Crystal Palace defender Martin Kelly admits that Eden Hazard is the player he least likes facing ahead of the Eagles clash with Chelsea this weekend.
Kelly started his career at Liverpool, but moved to Selhurst Park in 2014, and has established himself as a regular for Palace.
He has made 24 appearances for the team so far this year but has not featured since January.
However Kelly was on the bench for the win over Watford before the international break and could be in line for a return to the first team against the league leaders.
If he does so, he could come up against Hazard – who is a doubt of his own after missing Belgium’s game with Russia – an opponent who he admits is always tricky to deal with.
(Jordan Mansfield/Getty Images)
“Because of my build, I like playing against good athletic wingers, but he is small and stocky and his change of pace is ridiculous,” said Kelly.
“I find tricky wingers like that difficult to play against and he is one of the best in the Premier League.”
Palace currently sit four points outside the relegation places in 16th with ten games left this season.
But with games against every team in the top six still on their schedule, there is still a lot of work for Sam Allardyce’s side to do.
