Hughes' backing for Allardyce

Manchester City manager Mark Hughes is backing Sam Allardyce to drag his former club Blackburn out of trouble.

Allardyce was today appointed as Rovers boss on a three-year contract after Paul Ince was sacked yesterday.

Hughes said: “Sam is an experienced Premier League manager. He’s had success at a similar-sized club in the past.

“They may be lacking a bit of confidence – he is a big guy with a big personality. He will go in there and try and address things quickly.”