SAM ALLARDYCE HAS refused to rule out bringing in Kevin Nolan as his first signing at Sunderland.

Allardyce held his first press conference since being appointed manager of the Premier League strugglers on Tuesday.

Nolan has captained Allardyce sides at Bolton Wanderers and West Ham and is currently a free agent having left Upton Park by mutual consent at the end of August.

Both the manager and the player spent time with Newcastle United, leaving open the intriguing prospect of the pair facing up to their former employers in the Tyne-Wear derby at the end of this month.

“I have to assess the squad and whether I need another midfield player,”Allardyce said.

“Kevin and me go back a long way but I need to assess the ability of the squad and then take it from there.

“If I feel Kevin may be someone I can look at in the future, and will give us something, then that may be a line I enter down.”

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