Crystal Palace manager Roy Hodgson has backed Wilfried Zaha to stay at the club for "many years" and insists that there was never any interest in selling the winger this summer.

Zaha began the season with a goal in Palace's 2-0 victory over Fulham at Craven Cottage this afternoon, putting transfer speculation behind him to help the Eagles get off to a winning start.

Hodgson also singled out goalkeeper Wayne Hennessey for special praise after he made a string of saves en route to a clean sheet, having been preferred in goal to summer signing Vicente Guaita.

"We had no interest in selling Wilfried Zaha. We want him at the club as many years as we can have him. He's a South London, Crystal Palace player and he knows we really appreciate what he can do for us," Hodgson told reporters.

"[Hennessey] finished the end of the season exceptionally well. Both goalkeepers have done well in pre-season; I had no reason to take the shirt from Wayne. That decision was justified today.

"We didn't start well, but that was largely due to Fulham starting well. They won the ball quickly, were sharp and quick into tackles, making it difficult to play the ball through midfield. But we got better and better.

"Scoring a goal helps to put a team on the back foot and, second half, we were much better. Slavisa [Jokanovic] is probably not unhappy with the way his team played, but unhappy with the result. We scored two very good goals."

Palace's second game of the season will see them host Liverpool next Monday night.