LONDON, May 12: Argentina striker Carlos Tevez will play what is likely to be his final match for West Ham on Sunday, hunting a final-round win at Manchester United to keep the Hammers in the Premier League.

The fact that he's playing for the club at all could then drag it down anyway.

The striker's standout performances have helped the Hammers climb out of the relegation zone.

With Charlton and last-place Watford already set to go down, West Ham is fighting to avoid the third and final relegation spot.

West Ham is at crowned champion Manchester United, while Wigan and Sheffield United, the other relegation candidates, face each other.

Wigan is three points behind the Hammers and the Blades, but the relegation issue may not be over even after the games have finished.

Wigan and Sheffield United are among four clubs threatening legal action against West Ham and the Premier League over the fact that Tevez is playing for the Hammers.

Tevez and fellow Argentine Javier Mascherano moved to Upton Park this season, but the fact that their contracts were owned by a third party broke Premier League rules.

While Mascherano has since moved on to Liverpool _ and may play in the May 23 Champions League final against AC Milan _ the Premier

League fined the Hammers 5.5 million pounds (US$10.9 million; euro8.1 million) last month.—AP