Roy Hodgson is confident Wayne Hennessey and Cheikhou Kouyaté will return for Crystal Palace’s Boxing Day clash with Cardiff City.

The pair were ruled out of the trip to Manchester City which saw goals from Andros Townsend, Jeffrey Schlupp and captain Luka Milivojevic help wrap up a shock 3-2 win.

Vicente Guaita was given the nod to start in goal while Schlupp deputised in central midfield alongside Milivojevic during the historic victory.

Now Hodgson believes he will everyone back fit for the game, with the exception of one or two players.

READ: Townsend: Man City wonder goal was 'definitely cleanest strike of my career'

“I’d think Wayne and Cheikhou should be okay,” the former England boss said.

“Martin Kelly is somewhat more of a doubt but I wouldn't be surprised if he isn't fit either, and we could easily find ourselves going into the Cardiff game with just Christian Benteke [out injured].

“He's working hard too so we're moving in the right direction.”

Hodgson also revealed it was a “risk” to play Milivojevic in the win over City.

That’s because the Palace skipper has four yellow cards to his name – meaning his next will grant him an automatic one-match suspension.

READ: Where Hodgson ranks Palace's shock Man City win in his career

If he goes into the referee’s book against Cardiff then he’ll be forced to miss out Palace’s final game of 2018 against Chelsea on December 30 at Selhurst Park.

Speaking after the City game, Hodgson added: “Today was important for us with Luka because Luka had four yellow cards and it was a risk, I suppose, to play him with such a big game coming up against Cardiff but luckily that went for us as well.”