SUNDERLAND boss Sam Allardyce will work flat out in order to strengthen his squad before the transfer window closes next week – even if it means sacrificing his usual evening viewing.

The Black Cats remain in the bottom three after Saturday’s 1-1 draw with Bournemouth at the Stadium of Light.

With a free weekend coming up because of their exit from the FA Cup, Allardyce will turn his attentions to the transfer market in the coming days and insists he will leave no stone unturned as he looks to add more quality to his struggling side.

Jan Kirchhoff, Dame N’Doye and Steve Harper have already arrived on Wearside this month, but the Sunderland manager is still looking to bring in two outfield players, including a striker.

Allardyce revealed the Black Cats recruitment team will run the rule over a number of targets this week, while the manager himself will spend hours watching footage.

Asked if he is constantly thinking about players at the moment, Allardyce said: “I think everybody involved in recruitment at the minute, is trying to look at as many players as they possibly can.

“As well as looking after the players here, every moment, thanks to the technology we have today, we have all games from across Europe on our database and we can call up any player in every game he has played this year and watch those games. Then we can send somebody out to watch them.

“They are specific targets for us and we are just trying to make final judgement calls now. Can we get this one or that one and hopefully be successful?

“I can’t even watch my favourites (television programmes). No Eastenders, Coronation Street, no Emmerdale either. I’m not bothered about missing Hollyoaks…”

Allardyce appeared quite relaxed despite the fact his team remains in a perilous position in the Premier League, although he is aware that dealing in the transfer market in Sunderland’s current situation will not be an easy task.

He said: “It’s years of experience as a manager, not showing your internal emotions because that can be passed on to the players. That nervousness being passed on to them, doesn’t help. You have to stay calm and make the decisions that are best for the team.

“You’re never calm in the transfer window, it a horrid time for everybody, but even worse when you are in the position we are in.

“You have to manage a way through it and we have to try and find better players, of the right quality, who can help us escape out of the bottom three.”

After next weekend’s break the Wearsiders will embark on a tough run of games with Manchester City, Liverpool and Manchester United to come in the space of 11 days.

Allardyce admits his side may have to pull off a surprise result or two in order to help their quest for survival, but despite recent performances he is optimistic his side is showing signs of promise.

“With games running out, we might need a result against one of the big boys now.

“In all fairness, we’ve shown signs last week that might be something we can achieve, but we threw that one away really.

“It’s my job to try and strengthen the side even more until the window shuts, if I can and increase the quality of the squad going forward, to try and give us a better chance of getting out of trouble.

“The players who are already here are beginning to increase their level of output, increase their level of fitness and working harder for each other.

“We haven’t quite got the level of results that we wanted but we are trying to do the right thing to put that right.”