The Black Cats, poised to confirm the arrival of Senegal striker Dame N’Doye on loan with a view to a permanent move, gave their survival hopes a recent boost by halting a run of five straight defeats with a 3-1 home win against bottom club Aston Villa in their last league clash.
Allardyce described that encounter as a “nine-pointer” and made it clear where his priorities lay when making wholesale changes for Saturday’s FA Cup exit at Arsenal.
“There were seven changes but the team was worth £14million that started on Saturday, so it wasn’t weakening the side by any stretch of the imagination,” he said.
“They were players bought for a lot of money, who haven’t played as much as they want and my demand is, and also for those playing on a regular basis, that they all have to get better.”