SAM Allardyce has dropped a big hint that he could offer Franck Passi a long-term deal at the Reebok.

The Wanderers' boss has enthused over the Frenchman's performances and appeared to pave the way for talks over a permanent contract when he said: "If he carries on playing like that . . ."

The manager didn't finish the sentence but he has certainly been impressed by the 33-year-old midfield player, who last week signed a second one-month contract.

Having made just a brief substitute appearance at Blackburn, Passi was showered with praise from Allardyce after his performance in last week's FA Cup third round victory over Cardiff and again following his appearance as Paul Warhurst's midfield replacement in Monday's 1-1 draw with West Brom.

Enthusiasm

"Michael Johansen came in with flu," the manager explained, "so I threw Paul Warhurst in. He'd done four or five days' training and should have been okay. But we lost Paul when he got a knock in the groin and I had to put Franck in.

"Perhaps I should have played Franck from the start because when he came on he did ever so well."

By his own admission, Passi is a defensive midfield player and makes no great claims about his attacking abilities. But his introduction certainly sparked a much livelier attacking performance in the second half against the Baggies and he went within a whisker of scoring when his shot hit the crossbar in the 73rd minute, shortly before Claus Jensen rescued a point with an unstoppable free kick.

"Franck did ever so well," Allardyce said of the former Marseille and Monaco player, who came Wanderers way after a five-year stint in Spain with Compostella.

"I thought he showed a lot of enthusiasm and injected a lot of spark into our play.

"He was very unlucky when he hit the bar. It would have been nice for him if that had gone in."

Passi makes no bones about where he believes his footballing future lies.

"I had a really good experience during my five years in Spain but I want to play in England," he says.

"I have this opportunity now and I have to take it. I have to train good, play good and show people that I can play in England."

The softly-spoken, diminutive midfielder has had to be patient. He failed in a bid to establish himself at Manchester City in a pre-season trial "because they had too many players" and had the best part of a month to wait at the Reebok before he was given his first start.

But he remains determined to persuade Wanderers to lengthen his stay.

"I have to wait for the opportunities but when they do I will follow the instructions of the manager. I have to show that I can play."

Passi believes Wanderers have the quality to get back into the higher reaches of the First Division, provided their luck turns.

"We were unlucky on Tuesday because West Brom scored at the time when we were pressing them and playing better," he explained. "If we had scored first I am sure we would have won the game.

"We were also unlucky to lose against Stockport too because they had just the one chance. It was a good goal but we were very unlucky.

"This team can be higher in the league."

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