Sam Allardyce has made it clear this week that he is an admirer of former Sunderland forward Connor Wickham, and attempted to sign the English striker when he was with the Hammers.
Big Sam has said that he had multiple bids rejected from Sunderland before he moved to Palace this Summer. Tonight will be the first time Wickham has played the team which brought him up to the Premier League at Selhurst Park.
Allardyce told the Shields Gazette: “Yes, it was the start of last season when we couldn’t persuade Sunderland to sell him.
“He was obviously too precious for them to let him go and we went elsewhere in the end.
“But he was someone we were interested in signing, yes.
“I call him a Kevin Davies Mk2. He’s got all the raw tools.
“It’s using them to the best of his ability.
Allardyce speaks of Gus Poyet and Lee Converting when talking about how precious Connor was to the Black Cats’ survival in one of the most magical season recoveries in Premier League history.
Wickham penned a new 4 year contract at Sunderland in December last year, however after scoring only 5 goals over the season, Sunderland were willing to listen to offers, and the Eagles saw the opportunity for the former Ipswich striker to join them.
“I got close to joining Sam at West Ham but the deal fell through last minute” said Wickham recently.
“The idea was that I would be the focal point of the team, but it didn’t work that way.”
The 22-year-old has made the headlines for lashing out at Sunderland fans in recent weeks, and now he faces the team he appeared 91 times for. Wickham has only made 4 appearances for his new side and is yet to score.
