Sam Would Have Kept Striker

Sam Allardyce says that if he had been at the club earlier, Sunderland would probably not sold Connor Wickham to Crystal Palace.

Sam Allardyce says that if he had been at the club earlier, Sunderland would probably not sold Connor Wickham to Crystal Palace.

Having not long returned from a long injury lay off, Wickham started against his old club but struggled to make any headway.

Despite this, Big Sam had to admit that had he been in charge when Wickham was contemplating a move, he would have talked the 22 year old into staying on Wearside.

Allardyce told the Croydon Advertiser: ‘We’ve got plenty of front options, with Defoe, Fletcher, Watmore and Danny Graham,’ Allardyce said.

‘It’s been difficult for me to get those players in, but three at the back has allowed me to do this.

‘I tried to sign him (Wickham) at West Ham, so yes I probably would have kept him.’