NASRI BACKED TO IRON OUT HIS PROBLEMS

MANUEL PELLEGRINI has backed Samir Nasri to make amends for his drugs shame by returning to his former glory at West Ham.

The Irons boss is poised to hand Nasri (above) his debut from the bench against Birmingham today.

It will be the drugs cheat’s first competitive game since November 2017 because of a doping ban, and at the age of 31 no one knows how much the ex-france midfielder has left in the tank.

Nasri served an 18-month ban after being caught using an IV drip from a clinic in Los Angeles while on loan at Sevilla from Manchester City in 2016, but is now free to play after signing a short-term deal.

And Pellegrini insists the former City star can return to the sort of form which helped him win two league titles at the Etihad.

Pellegrini said: “Is he going to be the same player we saw at Man

City? I suppose because he knows that this is revenge for him, he is motivated, working hard.

“He must demonstrate it with his performances. He is a player whose value would be a lot of money, but we have to wait for him to play. I trust him, that’s why he is here. “He has a lot of quality and I am absolutely sure he will be a player that makes a difference. He is looking very well. He has lost some kilos in his weight.

“Football is like riding a bicycle when you are a small boy. You never forget how to do it. “Samir is a very technical player and I am sure he will play the same way as he did before. I trust him a lot and what he will give our team.

“Is this his last chance to do something big? I suppose. But he can play four or five years more without any problems.”