Sam Allardyce says finding a player good enough to improve his current squad is the "hardest job in football"

Sam Allardyce believes his relationship with Everton director of football Steve Walsh will help him produce positive results from player recruitment, which the manager cites as "the most critical part of building success".

Questions were raised as to whether Walsh and former coach Ronald Koeman saw eye to eye in their ideas of transfers, however Allardyce has worked with Walsh before during a spell at Newcastle and the pair have formed a healthy relationship.

Allardyce insists he has full faith in the success the pair can achieve together at Goodison Park.

"I am not going to comment on what Ronald did or didn't do," said Allardyce.

"What I will comment on is that Steve and I have known each other for a huge amount of time and I have every faith in the process we will have and, hopefully, it will be successful.

"Because, if I am to be successful, then recruitment at the football club will be the most critical part of building success."

Steve Walsh became Everton's director of football in July 2016

The former England boss says he has an "excellent" relationship with Walsh and revealed he is fully focused on strengthening his Toffees side during the January transfer window.

"Our relationship is very good, and has always been excellent. We go back years when he was a scout at Chelsea. I knew him first through his brother … Mick Walsh and I were close," the 63-year-old said.

"We had many conversations ­together and, when I moved to Newcastle, I needed somebody who would coordinate the whole of that department.

"I think that has been ongoing in his world ever since with Nigel Pearson at Hull and Leicester, and now here.

"We have to find the player who is going to be good enough to make Everton better and that is the ­hardest job in football we have ­today, believe you me."

Allardyce has led Everton to three wins and a draw since taking charge earlier this month, continuing their revival of the side that looked to be heading towards an unexpected relegation battle.

Everton appear to have turned their season around since the arrival of Sam Allardyce

They sit 10th in the table as they prepare to host bottom side Swansea on Monday, live on Sky Sports Premier League.

The boss feels his squad are well equipped to succeed in the top-flight, and would not be held on the type of player he hopes to acquire at the turn of the year.

"We know what the ­process is," he said.

"It is quite difficult to say I am only looking for this type of striker, because we are talking about a small group of players who are good enough to play at this level."