West Bromwich Albion manager Alan Pardew has challenged captain Jonny Evans to prove that he deserved to be reinstated into the first team following his involvement in the recent 'Cab Four' scandal.

Evans was one of the players involved in an incident in Barcelona during which four Baggies players broke curfew and allegedly stole a taxi cab.

The Northern Ireland international was fined two weeks' wages for his part in the incident, along with Gareth Barry, Jake Livermore and Boaz Myhill, but is expected to be reinstated as the team's skipper when they take on fellow Premier League strugglers Huddersfield Town this weekend.

"The most important thing, from Jonny's perspective, was his performance last Saturday - that was a very difficult game for him, and Barry," The Mirror quotes Pardew as saying.

"He showed real character to come through that, and so he should. This weekend he needs to prove to me, the fans and the club that he's the right man to lead us out of this.

"Trust me, he's paid a heavy price. But it's like all things in life - if you make a mistake, does that mean you have to spend the rest of your life paying for it? I don't think so."

West Brom head into their clash with Huddersfield rock bottom of the Premier League table, seven points away from a position of safety.