Sunderland midfielder Lee Cattermole believes Sam Allardyce is the right man to steer the Black Cats away from relegation this season.

Allardyce has taken over the reigns at the Stadium of Light following Sunderland's dismal start to the Premier League season, which sees them without a win and at the bottom of the ladder.

Cattermole says the 61-year-old's track record in similar situations has filled him with confidence.

"I always liked Sam's squads, when you played his clubs you always felt you were playing a team of men," Cattermole told The Guardian

"I always thought I'd like to be in that team.

"Sam fills you with confidence, he's clearly a very good manager. Whether he gets time, whether he gets the players he wants, that's out of our hands.

"But we need stability and that comes from a manager being able to implement his philosophy.

"That can only happen if we make sure he is still in a job come July. We need to keep hold of him and let him build the club.

"We have to trust Sam Allardyce, give him the reins and say: 'Go and do your stuff'. At the moment, though, this isn't Sam's squad so we must do the best we can for him."