Prior to Crystal Palace’s trip to Tottenham, Roy Hodgson defended Wilfried Zaha and dismissed “insulting” rumors that the winger was dissatisfied with his replacement against West Ham last week.

When the Ivory Coast forward was substituted during Palace’s 4-3 victory over the Hammers, he cut a disgruntled figure.

But Palace manager Hodgson has subsequently denied claims that the striker was upset because he was pulled off the field, saying instead that it was in response to another player there.

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“He’s fine, he’s a good captain. I’m irritated to some extent,” Hodgson said.

“The press are reporting that Wilf was angry at being taken off, how do the press feel they have the right to report that?

“He wasn’t angry at being taken off at all. In fact he and I discussed him playing an extra 10 minutes when I’d been thinking about taking him off 10 minutes earlier.

“I hear that he was going on about one of the other players in the game, he certainly wasn’t moaning about being taken off.”