Former Newcastle United striker Shola Ameobi admits Alan Pardew was key to him joining Crystal Palace.
Ameobi, 33, joined Palace as a free agent on a deal until the end of the season, having left Turkish side Gaziantep in December.
He told the Croydon Advertiser: "My contract got cancelled in Turkey and basically I spoke to Alan Pardew. He was very interested in bringing me to Palace and I was looking for a club, preferably a Premier League one.
"I want to get back to where I was at Newcastle in terms of quality and play at the highest level possible.
"Palace is just a great fit. I had a couple of other options but my affiliation with Alan [was the main factor] I just enjoy working under him and the move had come at a good time for me."
