ROY HODGSON says his return to club football after four years in the England job has been anything but a laugh a minute.

Speaking at the Aspire4Sport Congress and Exhibition at Stamford Bridge, Crystal Palace boss Hodgson joked about his Euro 2016 disaster as Three Lions chief.

7 Former England manager Roy Hodgson reveals the different type of frustrations he has bossing Premier League strugglers like Crystal Palace Credit: AFP or licensors

7 Crystal Palace were down on their luck again in their last match, losing 4-0 at Manchester United on September 30 Credit: Rex Features

But the former Liverpool and Fulham boss said returning to the Premier League wiped the smile off his face — because the players are worse and lack the right work ethic.

He said “Going to work at a club like Palace is no laughing matter after the riches of international management.

“More often than not you’re not working with as good players.

“So I’m going to work with players and going to be a bit disappointed every day at their technical ability, tactical knowledge, maybe even the ability to work hard.”

Hodgson added: “A good friend once said to me, ‘You know what the trouble with us trainers is?’

‘We expect players to be as professional as we are, to care as much, and to be as energetic and passionate about football as we are. And they aren’t.’

7 Roy Hodgson shows the strain early in spell as Palace boss as he greets Man Utd manager Jose Mourinho Credit: Rex Features

7 Roy Hodgson suffered the lowest point of his managerial career when England exited the Euros against Iceland Credit: PA:Press Association

“That’s something you sometimes have to come to terms with.”

But Hodgson claims England are now moving in the right direction.

He said: “The current national team and the current squad is very very strong in my opinion.

“It’s still very young. It has all the qualities you are looking for in a football team.

"The players are athletic, you’ve got pace in the team, technically very good, tactically happy to learn, willing to learn, willing to try to do the type of thing the coach wants them to do.

7 Iceland celebrate their historic win that ended the reign of England chief Roy Hodgson Credit: PA:Press Association

7 Damien Delaney and Co are learning how to play under new Palace boss Roy Hodgson Credit: Rex Features

“Do they lack anything? Yes, of course, they lack experience because many of them haven’t played many games even in their club side.

“They certainly haven’t played many matches at international level for their club or for their country.

"But that’s improving all the time. Every year that goes by they get stronger."

7 Roy Hodgson is under strain early in his reign at Selhurst Park Credit: Rex Features

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