Ameobi signed a short-term deal at Palace on Thursday afternoon, reuniting with Pardew who was his manager at Newcastle, as the pair look to help keep the south Londoners in the Premier League.
The veteran striker had been without a club since December when he left Turkish second tier side Gaziantep, after struggling to adapt to life abroad, and he has now been given another crack at the Premier League thanks to his friend Pardew.
Alan Pardew confirms Shola Ameobi has joined Crystal Palace on a short-term deal
The 33-year-old insisted that he played his best football under the former Palace midfielder at St James’ Park, claiming Pardew “always seems to get the best out of the team” upon signing.
“I had a couple of other clubs interested but I think my relationship with Alan [Pardew] and how much I enjoyed working with him was one of the big factor in my decision,” he said, as quoted by the Gazette.
“He instils confidence in players and he always seems to get the best out of them, certainly he did that at Newcastle and hopefully he can do that for me and the rest of the lads here.”
“I’m very excited to be here, I wanted to get back in the Premier League and having worked with the manager before it’s been great to come back and hopefully help us avoid the relegation battle.”
Ameobi was Palace’s third signing of the January window, following the loan capture of Arsenal’s Yaya Sanogo and the permanent deal taking Jordon Mutch from Queens Park Rangers.
He will be hoping to prove himself once more in the English top flight and repay the faith shown in him by Pardew. Ameobi is contracted to the Eagles until the summer and it is hoped he can impart wisdom on their strikers, due to his considerable experience in the Premier League.