Crystal Palace manager Roy Hodgson has lauded Ghanaian striker Jordan Ayew following his match-winner against Brighton & Hove Albion in the English Premier League on Saturday.

A lone goal from Ayew in the 70th minute was enough to seal all three points for The Eagles at the Amex stadium.

The 28-year-old, who had a frustrating spell at Palace last term during his loan spell that produced only one goal has hit top form since joining them on a permanent basis.

He is currently the club's top scorer with seven league goals to his name after making 27 appearances thus far.

"Last year he did a great job on loan for us for the year. We made that loan permanent at the start of the season because we knew what he is, we knew what he could do," Hodgson said at the post-match conference, as reported by his club's official website.

"Of course, last year he didn’t score many goals and that was something which bothered him and I suppose was a factor for us. Are we going to get the goals out of him that we need? We knew what else he gives - but is he going to give us goals as well?

"That’s what he’s started to do this year. He’s scored a large proportion of our goals and he’s still contributing to the team in so many other ways.

"His contribution without goals is enormous: that work rate, that desire, that constant thorn in the opposing team’s defence and also the fact that when we lose the ball he’s so quick to get back in position and help us defensively which is something you need and it’s contributed to our last two clean sheets."

The win lifted Palace to 12th on the league table with 36 points after 28 matches played so far this season.