Michael Gray: Sunderland have enough to stay up under Sam Allardyce

Michael Gray believes the Black Cats have been handed a significant boost with the January arrivals of Lamine Kone, Jan Kirchhoff, Wahbi Khazri and Dame N'Doye.

And despite having the worst defensive record in the top flight and being four points from safety, Sunderland legend Gray insists the spirited comeback against Liverpool shows the squad has what it takes to stay up.

Gray also believes having the former Bolton, Newcastle United and West Ham United boss at the helm is another major plus point, with Allardyce yet to be relegated from the Premier League.

"The transfer window was a big thing for Sunderland," said Gray, who made 410 appearances in a red and white shirt.

"I have been saying for months that Sam needed to get to the transfer window to have a look at where the problems were - and he has done that.

"The boy Kone has come in and been terrific.

"Kirchoff had a bit of a dodgy debut against Tottenham but since then he has played in front of the back four.

"Khazri has come in and he is an exciting player.

"N'Doye also is an experienced player and he is playing alongside one of the hottest properties in the Premier League at the moment in Jermain Defoe.

"I think we have got a real opportunity of getting out of the mess we are in at the moment.

"We have got goals in us, we are playing better football and we have a manager that has never been relegated from the Premier League.

"I just think we are going to have enough to stay up," Gray told talkSPORT.