HE has repented and begged for forgiveness but the jury is still out on El-Hadji Diouf.

Sam Allardyce has been delighted to see the Senegal striker hit the headlines for all the right reasons since he returned from his three-match ban for spitting at Portsmouth skipper Arjan De Zeeuw.

The Reebok boss, who was under pressure to sack the errant African at the time, has hinted he could be prepared to turn his season-long loan from Liverpool into a permanent deal in the summer.

But he believes there are still tough times ahead. "The lad has handled himself well since all this happened, but the biggest test will come when provocation comes from another player," the Wanderers boss said ahead of the Ewood Park derby in which Diouf can expect to be intimidated by another of football's so-called "bad boys", Robbie Savage.

"When that occurs, El-Hadji has to be in control.

"He isn't a bad lad, but he has produced the type of reaction no-one condones and we all hope he has learned his lesson.

"Everywhere he goes now he's a target for abuse and that is tough for him, but he's handling that and we are getting the best out of him."

Diouf, who apologised after the De Zeeuw incident, says he has learned his lesson and has pledged never to spit again. Now he hopes to put the whole affair behind him.

"I can only say sorry so many times," he said. "That is why I want to underline it is all in the past.

"I am aware of the cultural differences now and you wont see me doing that again."