The former Newcastle manager Sam Allardyce has declared his interest in the Sunderland job after Roy Keane quit the Black Cats. Should Allardyce take up the Stadium of Light post, it would make him the first man to manage both Newcastle and Sunderland. "Sunderland are a great club so of course I'd be interested in talking to them," said Allardyce, who quit Newcastle 10 months ago. "I have huge respect for the chairman Niall Quinn and the job he has done." Allardyce, who made 25 appearances for the Black Cats in the 1980/81 season, added in The Sun: "I enjoyed the year I had at Sunderland and also when I did some coaching work there under Peter Reid. I also know how passionate the fans are about their team." Sir Alex Ferguson, whose Manchester United side face Sunderland today, has admitted he is surprised by Roy Keane's sudden exit. Ferguson had been looking forward to welcoming his old captain to Old Trafford. Instead former Red Devils reserve-team boss Ricky Sbragia will be in charge and Ferguson was saddened at the news and feels Keane's absence is a blow to the Premier League. "I am surprised. Trying to cut through rumour and fact in football today is difficult," he said. "You are never quite sure what has happened and the rumour mill is operating at 100 miles an hour. But Roy was a great player here and it is a pity. We wish him well." Frank Lampard reckons Chelsea may have to "mix things up" to get themselves back on track in the title race. Following the defeat to Arsenal last weekend, Luiz Felipe Scolari's men have failed to beat any of their top three rivals at home, where they have now dropped 12 points. Lampard, whose team travel to Bolton today, said: "We might have to try and adapt to playing against defensive sides because people will see that other teams have got results doing that." Blackburn manager Paul Ince has urged Rovers' fans not to turn their back on the club following their slide into the Premier League relegation zone. Ince's side have not won a league game since September and crashed out of the Carling Cup on Wednesday night at the hands of Manchester United. Ahead of today's meeting with league leaders Liverpool, Ince said: "It is easy to have a go at players and the manager when things are not going well. But they have to stick with us during these hard times and hopefully they will come through it at the other end." Jamie Carragher has cited Ince as a huge inspiration. Carragher made his Liverpool debut a few months before Ince joined the club from Inter Milan in 1997. He said: "He gave me a lot of advice and he was someone I looked up to when I started to become a footballer. Hopefully he does really well, after Saturday." Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger believes it will not be long before striker Eduardo is back in action. The Brazilian-born Croatia striker, 25, suffered an horrific broken leg following a late challenge from Birmingham City's Martin Taylor in February. Wenger confirmed: "As soon as possible, he will play now. Today's home clash with Wigan will come too soon for Eduardo, but on-loan striker Amr Zaki, could return for the Latics. * With agencies
