Hodgson helped Townsend bounce back

Crystal Palace winger Andros Townsend has revealed how an open and honest conversation with manager Roy Hodgson helped him rediscover his form as he battled personal issues.

Townsend opened up in The Players’ Tribune in December about his past struggles with a gambling addiction, admitting he had hit “rock bottom” before getting caught by the FA – he was fined and suspended for four months in June 2013 – and then subsequently getting counselling.

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FourFourTwo Staff

FourFourTwo was launched in 1994 on the back of a World Cup that England hadn’t even qualified for. It was an act of madness… but it somehow worked out. Our mission is to offer our intelligent, international audience access to the game’s biggest names, insightful analysis... and a bit of a giggle. We unashamedly love this game and we hope that our coverage reflects that.