Emmanuel Eboue Could Still Have Sunderland Future- Sam Allardyce

Sam Allardyce maintains there is still a way back for Emmanuel Eboue despite Sunderland terminating his contract after he was given a one-year playing ban by FIFA. Eboue, who only signed for the Premier League strugglers as a free agent on March 9 and has yet to play for the club, has been sanctioned by FIFA's disciplinary committee for failing to pay up over a dispute with a former agent.

Sunderland immediately gave Eboue two weeks’ notice of their intention to cancel the defender's contract but Allardyce has admitted there is still a slight door open for the Ivorian. He said “I feel a little bit let-down by the situation because we didn't know anything about it and we couldn't intervene in the end. It was a straightforward case of getting it sorted or getting banned. He's tried to negotiate that, but not been able to and the ban has actually come through. He can't even come anywhere near the training ground, never mind a football match. There will still be a slight door open if he can resolve the situation in the next few days because we've spent a huge amount of time getting him fit ready for the first-team. We were looking forward to bringing him into the squad and hopefully forcing his way into the side based on his abilities at his former clubs. For us and him, it's a shame that we're in this situation, but it's not our fault. It was nothing we could have foreseen. The confidentiality clause means neither the FA or Premier League could have flagged it up for us. Unfortunately it's been at Sunderland Football Club when it's come to a head and we suffer the consequences as well as him”

Allardyce also admitted his frustration at losing Adam Johnson who has just started a six-year prison sentence for engaging in sexual activity with a child. Allardyce said “We have lost a hugely-talented player in Adam Johnson, irrespective of his indiscretions. He's got what he deserved, but I have lost a talented player that I would have liked to have kept, but it's taken out of my hands by other factors”