Crystal Palace boss Roy Hodgson expects Jamie Vardy to show the characteristics that earned England recognition when Leicester visit Selhurst Park on Saturday.

Hodgson, who gave Vardy his England debut, has warned Palace what to expect from the Foxes forward.

"I think he'll be very dangerous," Hodgson said.

"I have a lot of respect and admiration for Jamie Vardy. I was the one who brought him into the England squad and showed, I hope, the faith I and my coaching staff at the time had in him. He never let us down.

"He's a worker, he's a goalscorer and he's a constant thorn in the side of any defence and that's what we're preparing for."

Palace lost their first five games of the season under Frank De Boer before Hodgson's appointment, with the former England boss guiding the Eagles up the table. Palace are 14th with 35 points, six clear of the drop zone, entering this weekend's fixtures.

Hodgson knows defeat to the Foxes would extend the relegation worry into the final two games of the season, with Stoke and West Brom, but is relieved Palace's fate is in their own hands.

"We're much happier knowing it's up to us now. We're not looking up at people," he added.

Had striker Christian Benteke found the net with more regularity, Palace would likely be better placed.

One of the Belgium striker's two goals in 28 appearances came in December's 3-0 win at Leicester.

A £27million signing from Liverpool in August 2016, his only other strike came at West Ham in January.

Hodgson says Benteke's return is just one of those things.

"I feel sorry for him," Hodgson said.

"He certainly has tried his hardest. I can't complain about his attitude, his desire, his workrate.

"But centre forwards, especially ones that cost quite a lot of money, are judged on one thing and one thing alone.

"If you're not scoring those goals then the problem gets magnified, made worse with every passing game.

"It's a vicious circle, it's self perpetuating and the only way to stop it is for him to force his way back in and when he gets back into the team to score goals and convert the chances that come his way.

"He's not been able to do that this season, but I've got to say, to anyone who doubts him, it isn't through want of trying. It is just one of those things that football players go through."