Former Chelsea chief Mike Forde says Sunderland boss Sam Allardyce can handle the England job.

Forde worked with Allardyce at Bolton before moving to Chelsea, where between 2007 and 2013 he served as director of football operations and executive club director.

He told the Daily Mail: "I worked with a lot of managers at Chelsea and Sam could hold his own with any of them.

"You are only ever as good as the players you have but when it comes to getting the best out of the players you have he's second to none.

"In my time at Chelsea I'd say Carlo Ancelotti was the best at that and Sam is at the same level. He has done incredibly well in whatever situation he has been in. Players really do respond to him."