Blackburn Rovers boss Sam Allardyce is set to step up his bid to prise Ricky Sbragia away from Sunderland.

With Karl Robinson to rejoin Paul Ince at MK Dons, the Lancashire Evening Telegraph says his departure would leave Allardyce needing to add to his coaching staff and a move for Sunderland's Sbragia could interest the Rovers manager.

Sbragia was on Allardyce's coaching staff at Bolton Wanderers between October 2005 and 2007 and, after resigning as the Black Cats boss at the end of last season, could be tempted by renewing their working relationship.