Middlesbrough midfielder Julio Arca is backing Sam Allardyce to take charge of former club, Sunderland.

Speaking at MSV in Middlesbrough for the launch of a new book, Teesside Urban Legends, which he attended with Boro team-mate Tuncay Sanli, Arca said Sunderland chairman Niall Quinn is likely to opt for a manager unlike Keane.

Arca told the Daily Mail: "I'm sure Sunderland will now look to appoint a different sort of manager, a new man with new ideas and someone who won't use as many players but I'm sure the next boss will look to involve some of those who have been discarded by Keane, to give them another chance and to bring the squad together.

"Sam Allardyce has been linked with the job already and I think he could do well for Sunderland. He certainly did a great job at Bolton without much money.

"It didn't go so well for him at Newcastle and I know his links with them would mean he would initially be an unpopular choice with some Sunderland fans, but they won't care who he is or where he's been if he can bring them some success.

"With the sort of backing he would get at Sunderland, I'm sure he could change things around. They have everything there to be able to do well. They've got fantastic support, plenty of money and a great chairman in Niall Quinn.

"I'm not saying they could challenge the big four but with everything they have they really should be in the top 10 or 12 at least.

"I was there when Sunderland finished bottom of the Premier League and, to be fair, even then it was never too difficult to play at the Stadium of Light. The Sunderland fans are very patient, far more so than the supporters of other clubs. But they deserve some success."