Sam Allardyce has suggested that Crystal Palace must get their best players fit if they are to remain in the Premier League.

Palace have failed to register a point or goal from their opening seven fixtures in the top flight this season, leaving the Eagles five points adrift from safety in the standings.

However, Allardyce - who successfully kept Palace in the Premier League last season - has backed the qualities of new boss Roy Hodgson, and has predicted that the experienced manager will get the best out of the squad providing that they can all get fit.

"Roy is exceptionally good and he has been in this position before with other football clubs. It's getting that best eleven on the pitch and building their confidence," Allardyce is quoted by The Mirror as saying.

"That was a part of why we got out of trouble last year. We grew their confidence by making the team more compact, more solid. Then the quality players scored goals that turned a draw into a win and a loss into a draw."

The likes of Ruben Loftus-Cheek, Wilfried Zaha and Christian Benteke have all suffered significant injuries since the start of the season.