SAM ALLARDYCE claims Emmanuel Eboue could still have a future at Sunderland, despite the Black Cats sacking the defender earlier today.

Eboue’s short-term contract was terminated this morning after FIFA issued a 12-month ban preventing him from taking part in “all footballing activities”.

The suspension was imposed because Eboue owes around €1m to his former agent, Sebastien Boisseau, and has refused to pay the debt despite FIFA ruling against him in September 2014.

Eboue’s appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport was rejected, but Sunderland officials insist they were unaware of any of the details of the case when they offered the 32-year-old a contract to the end of the season at the start of the month.

Eboue has two weeks in which to appeal against his dismissal from Sunderland, and Allardyce would be willing to welcome him back if he was to pay the money he owes in order to have his FIFA ban lifted.

Allardyce said: “I’ve never known anything like it, and I’ve been doing this a long time. It’s another factor we could have done without because we’ve just spent a huge amount of time getting him fit.

“He was just ready to play a part in the squad and try to forge his way into the team. We were hoping to find the Emmanuel Eboue that played for Arsenal and Galatasaray, and played Champions League football and at the top end of the Premier League. At only 32, it looked as though from a fitness point of view that he still had those capabilities.

“That might have been very important for us, but we won’t know now – unless he can sort out those problems very quickly. I think there’d still be a door open if those problems were sorted in the next seven to 14 days.

“If that’s the case, there might be a way back. But it is hugely frustrating to have spent so much time, and for him to have committed so much time.

“I think he probably relied on other people too much, and didn’t keep a close enough eye on it himself to make sure it didn’t get to this situation. But unfortunately it has.”

Given that Eboue’s suspension prevents him from even entering Sunderland’s Stadium of Light training ground, the club felt they had no option other than immediately dismissing him.

The club still have DeAndre Yedlin and Billy Jones available to play at right-back, and Allardyce will also include Lamine Kone and Wahbi Khazri in the squad to face West Brom at the weekend.

The pair were withdrawn from international duty because of injury concerns, but are back in full training ahead of the home game with the Baggies.

Allardyce said: “Our injury worries have cleared up since the Newcastle game. Wahbi and Lamine didn’t go on international duty because of their injuries but they’re okay, and Younes (Kaboul) has recovered from his calf injury as well.

“They all trained this morning, and all the players on international duty came back with no injuries. Our only long-term injury in the squad is Duncan Watmore, which leaves us with a very strong and fit squad that’s hopefully available for the next eight games.”