Football
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West Brom's Jonny Evans to be reinstated as captain after taxi incident

Jonny Evans is to be reinstated as West Bromwich Albion's captain after he was stripped of the honour last week for breaking curfew during a training camp in Barcelona.

Evans did not captain West Brom in the FA Cup fifth-round tie against Southampton on Feb. 17 as manager Alan Pardew instead handed that responsibility to fellow defender Gareth McAuley.

Evans, Gareth Barry, Jake Livermore and Boaz Myhill allegedly stole a taxi after breaking a club curfew during a warm-weather camp and team-bonding exercise in Barcelona. The case has been shelved by police because of a lack of evidence.

West Brom face a crucial home clash against Premier League relegation rivals Huddersfield Town on Saturday and Pardew has said Evans will be captain, "provided he comes through training."

"The disciplinary side is dealt with," Pardew said. "There's a board here that comes together and decides that and that is the decision that has been taken and we move on now."

West Brom are bottom of the Premier League and seven points from the safety of 17th place, a position currently occupied by Huddersfield.

"The only way we can rectify it and get out of this situation is to win games," Pardew said. "We have a massive game against a Huddersfield side that have improved recently and we need to win for the fans and for ourselves and show pride and honour in our performance."

Pardew has won only three of his 17 games in charge in all competitions since taking over in November from Tony Pulis, who also won just three matches this season before his departure.

"This club was on a difficult run before I arrived and it hasn't improved since I've been here and that's at my door and I need to put that right," said Pardew.

"But certainly this week we are much more focused and the desire levels have come together. We have three options -- perform a great escape, fight and get relegated or go down with a whimper, and I certainly hope it's not the last one. We are determined it won't be the last one."

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