Sam Allardyce delivers bold Sunderland top six claim despite looming 'disaster' on Wearside

Former Sunderland boss Sam Allardyce has suggested that the club have what it takes to finish in the top six this season, despite the potential “disaster” of losing several players to the upcoming African Cup of Nations.

The Black Cats are currently sixth in the Premier League table having amassed 22 points from their opening 13 matches - a tally that makes them the most successful newly promoted side at this stage of a campaign since Wigan Athletic in 2005/06.

Regis Le Bris could face something of a challenge in the coming weeks, however, with as many as seven members of his first team squad expected to jet off to participate in AFCON. It has been confirmed that FIFA have set a deadline of December 15th for players to be released by their clubs, meaning that the Wear-Tyne Derby against Newcastle United in 11 days’ time will be Sunderland’s final game of the year with a full contingent at their disposal.

And looking ahead to the international tournament, Allardyce admitted that it could be a serious setback for his old club.

What did Sam Allardyce say about AFCON and Sunderland’s top six chances?

Speaking exclusively on the Footy Accumulators No Tippy Tappy Football podcast, in partnership with BOYLE Sports, Allardyce said: “It [AFCON] is a disaster for the club. The old way of shutting the league down has gone out the window, hasn’t it? They should never have got rid of the winter break. Injured players will be getting even more injured. Welfare is far more dangerous now than it’s ever been before.”

Allardyce was speaking to ex-Sunderland defender Wes Brown, who replied: “They’ve started so good. I love their energy. You can tell the energy between the lads who are playing, the manager, and the crowd, and I think it was very important that they got off to a decent start, but they actually did better than that and got off to a brilliant start. “I still feel like they’re going to lose games, but at the same time, they could win just as many. It’s really good to see. You can see a good energy there.”

Allardyce continued: ““I talk about recruitment all the time, but they shouldn’t have gone up last year, they nicked it. They really did nick it. Now they have taken advantage of it by their recruitment. They’ve signed some really good players, and they look a really good unit. [Granit] Xhaka, he’s the glue. You can see him controlling, talking, shouting, and playing as good as he ever did for Arsenal, if not better. Most of these players have never played in the Premier League, and he’s giving them the advice on the pitch, and he’s showing an example. It’s absolutely brilliant.”

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When asked if Sunderland could hang on for a top six finish this season, Brown said: “It’s going to be hard. I think the players will believe that at the moment, and that’s what you want. However, I still think there are other teams that haven’t really got into gear yet, and once they start pulling off two and three wins on the bounce, I think they might struggle. But at the same time, the players will be thinking, ‘Why not? Why can’t we?’.

Allardyce is more optimistic, however. When quizzed on whether Sunderland fans would prefer a spot in the top six come the end of the season or finishing higher in the table than bitter rivals Newcastle United, he replied: “Both! My first home game was Newcastle, and we were struggling then. We won, and I still don’t know how, but we won. All the fans were singing about six in a row, and I had no idea, and someone said it was the sixth time in a row we’d beat Newcastle. It was crazy.”

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