The under-fire Anfield chief says the Greek defender can head
the ball as well as Chelsea ace JT plus legends Tony Adams and Jack
Charlton.
But Reds supporters will be left scratching their heads as to
why he has started only THREE Premier League games
if he is that good.
Kyrgiakos, 31, headed in Steven Gerrard's corner in the 2-1 win
over Blackburn last Sunday and was also on target in the home
defeat to Blackpool.
That puts him level with Fernando Torres and one behind Kop top
scorer Gerrard.
And Hodgson said: "You can see that Soto really wants to get his
head on it.
"He is like the way Tony Adams used to be and, before that,
Jackie Charlton or how John Terry is now.
"It's not that they have got clever movement or they jump
higher.
"They just want to get there. He is making our corner kicks look
a hell of a lot better - but we should really be doing much better
at corners because we have got one of the best deliverers of a ball
around in Steven Gerrard.
"Soto's very dangerous in the opposing team's area and defends
well in ours.
"Against teams who try to get you to submit to their aerial
bombardment you do need players who are good in the air.
"You need players who are brave and strong and prepared to put
their head on the ball.
"We knew he was good at doing that in our area - but this season
he's been doing it in the opposing area too."
And Hodgson has backed Raul Meireles to open his account for his
new club following his £11.5million move from Porto in the
summer.
The Reds chief said: "He is a good striker of the ball.
"I'm sure his first goal for the club won't be too far away.
"Meireles is the type of player we need to bring more of to this
club in the future."
