Mamadou Sakho has hinted that he could be ready for the start of the season, after coming through an hour of Crystal Palace's latest pre-season friendly.
The French defender stepped up his comeback from a knee injury as he started Palace's friendly clash against AFC Wimbledon at Kingsmeadow last night (Tuesday), with Sakho playing 61 minutes before being substituted.
And the former Liverpool defender gave a positive update on his fitness as he continues his recovery from a knee operation towards the end of last season, having been replaced by Scott Dann during Palace's 4-1 win against Leicester City back in February.
“I feel good and really happy. Step by step I’m coming back," Sakho told the Palace club website .
“During the holiday, I’ve worked really hard. I had just ten days off - three days with my charity work [in Senegal], one week with my family – apart from that I worked really, really hard every day – training in Miami and in Dubai too, but I am happy.
"I had 60 minutes here and 20 minutes a few days ago [against Bristol City], so it is step by step."
Palace drew the game 2-2, with their League One opponents coming from a goal down twice in a competitive contest.
Teenager Brandon Pierrick netted both goals for Palace under the watchful eye of manager Roy Hodgson, while Sakho featured alongside some young defenders, with Sam Woods, Nikola Tavares and new academy recruit Lewis Hobbs lining up in the back four.
And Sakho said he felt it was good experience for the younger players to compete against a League One side, with the Frenchman and striker Connor Wickham among the more senior players involved for the Eagles, in their penultimate friendly ahead of the start of the opening game of the 2019/20 season against Everton, on Saturday, August 10.
“I think it’s really important for the young players too – when they play with an experienced player like me. When I was younger I used to love to play with more experienced players. It’s just what I try to do today, I was happy – the young lads, they give 100 per cent.
"I think all the squad played well – that’s the most important thing for me.”
