Sam Allardyce watched his West Ham side salvage a point from a 2-2 draw at Crystal Palace on Saturday - and then left the door wide open for Carlos Tevez to rejoin the club.
Argentinian striker Tevez has been suspended by Manchester City and told he will never play for them again after his apparent refusal to go on as a substitute at Bayern Munich on Tuesday. West Ham's initial enquiry about a loan deal for the player who saved them from relegation in 2007 was given short shrift this week.
But Allardyce insists he would love to sign Tevez, and said: "If he would like to join us and the chairman would like to pay for him then yes, why wouldn't you want a top-class player like that?"
He added: "I've worked with some world-class players in my time, they win you games when you least expect it. With a goal record like his why wouldn't you want him?
"I've had worse than him. I've had some bad ones in my time. Just keep playing him, that's the answer."
West Ham could certainly do with the spark the return of Tevez would provide after they snatched a late point at Selhurst Park. Palace were leading twice through Darren Ambrose and Glenn Murray only for the Hammers to hit back through Kevin Nolan and John Carew, with his first goal for the club.
Palace boss Dougie Freedman was on the bench the last time these sides met, in the 2004 play-off final which the Eagles won.
"I thought it was a fair result," he said.
"It was two teams playing very different styles.
"One or two of my players went into the game as young boys and came out as men. They are a powerful, experienced side who knock the ball long and you have to stand up against them, and we did."
Source: PA
