Roy Hodgson could start Max Meyer at Watford and likens German with N'Golo Kante, Lucas Torreira and Naby Keita

Crystal Palace manager Roy Hodgson has confirmed summer signing Max Meyer is in contention for a starting place when his side take on Watford this weekend.

The 22-year-old midfielder joined on a free transfer after leaving Bundesliga club Schalke in the summer and made his debut from the bench during Palace’s 2-0 defeat to Liverpool at Selhurst Park on Monday night.

Hodgson was keen to praise the qualities of the midfielder and likened him to some of the best diminutive players in the league.

“Yes. He is ready to start. He is a good player. His CV says that, and what has been said about him is what he is. He can play across the midfield and he is similar to a lot of players coming into the game at the top level, with (N’Golo) Kante, (Lucas) Torreira and (Naby) Keita,” he said.

Meyer’s fellow arrivals this summer include Cheikhou Kouyate, Jordan Ayew and Vicente Guaita, and the 71-year-old stated that he is content with all of what he has seen so far from his summer additions.

“I have been happy with our performances, but with Meyer, Kouyate and Ayew, they have been impressive in training. I wouldn’t hesitate to put any of them, or Vicente Guaita into the team.”

One player who will certainly miss the trip to Vicarage Road is Aaron Wan-Bissaka after the 20-year-old was sent off against Liverpool. The England U20 international has been on the radar of the U21 side and even the full national side, and while Hodgson refused to comment on that issue he had no qualms about Oliver’s decision on Monday night.

“The full England team? I don’t like to make those judgements or answer those questions. I trust in those people to make those decisions. As far as the sending off is concerned, I would have made the same decision as Michael Oliver,” he said.

England were excellent at the World Cup this summer but Hodgson is unsure as to what impact the event in Russia had on the Premier League and in football generally.

“The question is far too philosophical. I have to accept a premise that the World Cup gave us that, or that the Premier League gives us that,” he said. “A lot of the games at the World Cup were attack versus defence, you don’t see that as much in the Premier League.

“There have been lots of goals, and teams willing to play on the front foot, then yes, we are seeing that. Our game against Liverpool was an example of that. We went toe-to-toe with them for large periods,” he added.

Palace’s next test against Watford sees Wilfried Zaha return to the ground where he was taunted by the club mascot for diving in 2016, but Hodgson has dismissed all accusations of simulation against the player.

"If you ask me if Harry the Hornet should dive in that way, I think that’s disgraceful,” he said. “If it is provoking the crowd into looking for something that there isn’t, that’s wrong. Wilfried Zaha does not dive.

“But of course teams try to take every advantage that they can. I would be very disappointed if a Palace mascot was doing that, and if it was happening, I would put a stop to it.