Sam Allardyce believes Wahbi Khazri can inspire Sunderland in their relegation battle.

The 24-year-old attacking midfielder impressed in his debut for the Black Cats on Tuesday night when coming on at half-time of the narrow 1-0 defeat to Manchester City.

Tunisia international Khazri, who joined Sunderland from Bordeaux late in the January window, has the ability to influence the struggling Black Cats just as the likes of Jay-Jay Okocha and Youri Djorkaeff did for Allardyce's Bolton Wanderers side of the past.

"You are going world-class now, man. I'm not sure he's world-class - if he is, it will be the bargain buy of the century," said Allardyce when quizzed on the ability of Khazri.

"One of our problems is we get to the final third fine - we arrived in the final third much more than Manchester City, we produced more in the penalty area than Manchester City did against us - but our quality is the ultimate [problem] in that area.

"It's the hardest place to produce that quality, so if he's got that quality in the final third which helps us provide and score more goals, then he'll be a massive bonus to us - as in the past Youri Djorkaeff particularly, in a similar position, and Jay-Jay Okocha provided in my Bolton time."