Ryan Mason reveals kind Roy Hodgson gesture ahead of Tottenham vs Crystal Palace

Tottenham’s caretaker manager Ryan Manson says he will be forever grateful to Crystal Palace boss Roy Hodgson who gave him his only England cap ahead of the clash in the Premier League this afternoon.

Mason is plotting a career in management having been forced to end his playing career aged only 26 due to a fractured skull injury he suffered while playing at Hull City.

He returned to his boyhood club Tottenham to complete his coaching training and had his first chance when Jose Mourinho was sacked and impressed before a substantive manager was named.

He was redrafted into the coaching team when Antonio Conte took over Tottenham and found himself at the wheel now that both Conte and his assistant Cristian Stellini have left.

In his two games as caretaker boss, Tottenham have shown proof of life with a spirited 2-2 draw with Manchester United and before cruelly losing 4-3 to Liverpool at Anfield, showing incredible fight to first tie the game 3-3 despite being down 3-0 in the first half.

Mason will look to win his first game when he faces an in-form Crystal Palace who are managed by Roy Hodgson. “I admire Roy and will be grateful to him because he gave me my England cap,” Mason said ahead of the league game.

On the game itself, Tottenham needs to respond having dropped to seventh in the league table with Aston Villa now challenging for Europa Conference league football next season.

Palace have already hit the 40-point mark which will be interesting to see the kind of performance they put up this afternoon.