Exclusive:Why Hodgson must drop the £35k-a-week ace from the starting XI against Chelsea at Crystal Palace

Roy Hodgson has to make one big decision for Crystal Palace’s clash against Chelsea after one star’s struggles in particular.

Crystal Palace picked up a 1-1 draw against Roberto De Zerbi’s Brighton & Hove Albion side with Jordan Ayew firing in the opener for Roy Hodgson’s men before a late Danny Welbeck equaliser meant the points were shared.

It was a tense encounter at Selhurst Park but a draw was probably a fair result but ahead of their game against Chelsea, one man has to be dropped.

Starting his fifth consecutive game for the Eagles, Palace man Chris Richards was brilliant and looks a cert to start against Mauricio Pochettino’s side but it’s his teammate Will Hughes who may need to be dropped.

Playing in an unfamiliar midfield role was hard for the American defender but he adapted well. It was Hughes who looked to be struggling the most in the engine room.

The 28-year-old struggled with the physical battle as he won no aerial duels during the game and touched the ball just 27 times.

Sofascore claims that the midfielder completed 100% of his passes but that was only 18. In the engine room, having a high number of passes is crucial for the team but he struggled and was substituted in the second half.

Against a Chelsea side that will dominate possession, a player with more defensive solidity and control of the ball may well be crucial to keep the tempo of the team high.

Richards has adapted to his new role in the team well and could arguably be Palace’s player of the month for December and has started five consecutive Premier League games for the first time.