Crystal Palace boss Sam Allardyce has revealed Sir Alex Ferguson offered him support during his England controversy.

Allardyce said old pal Fergie helped get him out of hiding after he went to Spain to flee the flak.

He was back on public view less than a month later when he sat with Ferguson at Old Trafford to watch Manchester United in the Europa League.

Allardyce, who takes his Palace side back to United today, said: “Fergie invited me to a game and told me to get back out there. The more people that support you, the quicker you recover.

“And the only thing I could do was jump back into the game. I needed it for my own rehabilitation."