Ray Simpson / 19th July 2016

Big Sam to attend tonight's friendly

Sunderland manager Sam Allardyce will be attending tonight's friendly at the Northern Echo Arena.Big...

Sunderland manager Sam Allardyce will be attending tonight's friendly at the Northern Echo Arena.

Big Sam has been away training with the Sunderland first team squad in Austria, and returned at the weekend. He obviously sees tonight's game as a means of checking up on the club's young talent, who are managed by Andy Welsh.

However, there is also strong speculation that he is going to be the next England manager, and was interviewed by the FA last week, if reports are to be believed.

Sunderland contacted Quakers this afternoon to reserve seats for Big Sam and all his coaching staff, who include Robbie Stockdale, Paul Bracewell and Kevin Ball.