Crystal Palace manager Roy Hodgson has expressed reservations ahead of the international break that will see his players travel to their countries to link up with their national teams for various fixtures.

Following his side's impressive 4-1 victory over Leeds United, the 73-year-old said he was disappointed that some of the players would have to travel "as far as Africa" as COVID-19 continues battering the world.

"I am a little bit disappointed that players are going to go as far as Africa to play matches," Crystal Palace Digital quotes Hodgson. "I don't know that in this COVID world and environment in which we live, it is really great news to be sending your players to places like Sudan and Mauritius."

Some of his players that have been called up for international duties by countries in Africa include Wilfried Zaha and Jordan Ayew.

Zaha's Cote d'Ivoire are scheduled to play Madagascar twice in the two-week break, the first a home-fixture while the second will be held in the southeast African Island.

Ayew's Ghana have a similar arrangement with Sudan, a home and away fixture.

"It is something that we probably have to do, but I am just hoping this time the countries that they go and play for will look after them well because the last time we lost Jordan Ayew for two weeks," said Hodgson.

Hodgson's reservations come as the number of COVID-19 cases in Africa surpassed the 1.88 million mark with a death toll exceeding 45,000, according to the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention.