West Ham United manager Alan Pardew said Argentina forward Carlos Tevez was finally starting to adapt to the English game after a shaky start and had shown his class against champions Chelsea on Saturday.
The 22-year-old, signed from Brazilian side Corinthians on the last day of the transfer window in August, was hailed as the key to renewed West Ham success this season but, partly because of injury, has found it hard to settle.
Before Saturday's match he had started just two of a possible 12 league matches and made four substitute appearances. He also started both of West Ham's UEFA Cup matches against Palermo but has yet to find the net for his new club.
Although West Ham lost 1-0 on Saturday, Tevez, playing on the right, proved creative down the wing particularly in the first half.
"He showed the quality which he can give to the club," Pardew said.
"We've been patient with him and he's been patient with us. I was buoyed by his performance today. His work rate was fantastic for a world class player. He's brought on board what we do at West Ham."
Pardew said Tevez could play most positions and that augured well for the rest of the season with West Ham aiming to climb out of the bottom half of the table.
"He's versatile. That's one of his gifts."
Pardew said the east London club were unfortunate to lose to their wealthy west London neighbours, an expertly taken free-kick from Chelsea's Cameroon full-back Geremi proving the difference.
Unlucky Hammers
"We were unlucky to come in 1-0 down at half-time with the commitment of the players," he said. "The number of crosses we got in was very rare for Chelsea at home."
While Tevez may be showing signs of finding his feet his compatriot Javier Mascherano has not played since being substituted midway through the second half of the defeat against Tottenham Hotspur a month ago and was not in the squad for Saturday's match.
West Ham have been the target of a takeover since the beginning of the season which Pardew says has unsettled the side, following a fine end to last season when they reached the FA Cup final.
Pardew said he felt the matter would be resolved soon. "But then I thought that two weeks ago," he added.