Sam Allardyce: Why this signing is better than any Arsenal, Chelsea or Man Utd player

SAM ALLARDYCE believes Jan Kirchhoff produced the midfield display of the season against Manchester City.

 

Allardyce reckons Kirchhoff produced the midfield display of the season

 

The 25-year-old joined the club in January on an 18-month deal from Bayern Munich for £750,000.

But the German endured a nightmare start to his Sunderland career when he came on as a substitute at White Hart Lane.

Kirchhoff first deflected Christian Eriksen's shot into the net before bringing down Danny Rose to give away a penalty.

But Allardyce deployed the former Germany under-21 international in midfield against Manchester City, and was effusive in his praise despite a 1-0 defeat.

“I don’t know anybody who has played better than that in central midfield for anybody,” Allardyce said.

“Whether it be Everton, Man United, Arsenal, Chelsea and certainly Manchester City.

“He played that well, they changed to a three and tried to block it up at half time.

“We were dominating them because of the quality of passing and finding space.

“I have to say it was up there with one of the top performances for a midfield player from any team this season, I’d say.

“He did well to last too as he hasn’t played that many games for Bayern Munich this season."

And Allardyce revealed he had spoken to Kirchhoff about his nightmare debut at Spurs.

 

When I talked to him about it, he felt over anxious [at Spurs] and I wish he’d said,” Allardyce added.

“On that game, people pointed him out but he wasn’t really responsible.

“The team ran out of legs and it was a bad substitution by me.”