Ahead of tonight’s game with Liverpool, Roy Hodgson has used Matt Le Tissier’s iconic status at Southampton as evidence that Wilfried Zaha made the right choice in signing a long-term deal at Selhurst Park.

Believing there’s more to a successful career than lifting trophies, the Palace boss cited the Saints hero as proof that Crystal Palace can provide the platform to a fulfilling career.

Zaha, 25, eased the Palace’s faithful’s fears by signing a five-year deal warning off suitors Chelsea and Tottenham who, arguably, would stand a better chance of silverware.

Asked if Zaha has the credentials to become Palace's answer to the ex-Saints star, Hodgson said: "I have an enormous respect for Matt Le Tissier.

"That would have been a career I'd have been unbelievably proud of, to have a career at one club and to be as much of an icon and to be as well loved and as well respected at that club as he is, and furthermore to have the respect of everyone in football.

"I don't know anyone in football who has ever said anything other than that Matt Le Tissier was a fantastic player, fantastic person, a fantastic club servant."

Hodgson continued to say that the game has moved forward and that there was a time when serving a club for a long period of time was enough for people.

"It seems now that we are creating a category, that if you haven't won the Premier League or the Champions League, your career has been a waste of time.

"I'm afraid I don't subscribe to that.”

Le Tissier, or Le God as he’s affectionately known on the south coast, is part of the centurion club, scoring 100 goals in 270 premier league games over his 16-year career.

"Who is to say that players are not fulfilled spending the next five years at Crystal Palace, doing exceptionally well every year, loved by the fans, helping Crystal Palace to a position in the league that they think they can achieve.

"Who is to say that that is not fulfilling goals and that is not a very worthwhile career?”

Palace fans will be hoping Zaha goes someway towards emulating Le Tissier tonight as they welcome Liverpool.