Keys comments on Allardyce's return to Leeds with pointed Everton message

02 May 2023 , 15:05

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Former Sky Sports presenter Richard Keys (Image: Twitter)

Richard Keys has hailed Leeds United's impending appointment of Sam Allardyce, with the former England manager set to replace Javi Gracia.

Allardyce's last managerial job saw him get relegated with West Brom in 2021, but the 68-year-old has a wealth of experience and Leeds are hoping he can keep them in the Premier League with just four games to go.

Under Gracia, who replaced Jesse Marsch back in February, Leeds picked up three wins in 11 games and only remain outside the bottom three on goal difference. They have won just seven games this entire campaign, with their last victory a 4-2 win over Wolves back in March.

Since then, Leeds have suffered five defeats in six games with four of those losses seeing them concede four or more goals. As a result, they are now set to turn to Allardyce in the hope he can keep them up, with Leeds still to play Manchester City, Newcastle, West Ham and Tottenham this season.

Former Sky Sports presenter Keys is a big proponent of Allardyce and has regularly criticised Everton for sacking him back in 2018, despite guiding them to an eighth-placed finish in the Premier League.

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As a result, Keys reckons the prospect of potentially relegating Everton while also keeping Leeds up was a big "incentive" for Allardyce to take the job. Taking to Twitter, Keys wrote: "Big Sam is back! There's a theme here.

Sam Allardyce is set to become the new manager of Leeds United (Getty Images)

"The return of the dinosaurs. Hodgson Warnock Allardyce. You can't buy experience. Welcome back, big man. What an incentive for him - keep Leeds up and relegate Everton."

Back in 2020, Keys famously claimed Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola should turn to Allardyce for advice to help them defensively following a 5-2 loss to Leicester at the start of the season.

"He's got 60 people around him," Keys said of Guardiola. "It can't be that hard. He could go and watch Roy Hodgson work, or bring Sam Allardyce in on a temporary basis. Any of these guys have shaped teams defensively, haven't they."

Matthew Cooper