Towie star Mark Wright says he'd love to play for Sunderland

Mark Wright in action for England during the Soccer Aid match, where Sunderland boss Sam Allardyce was his manager.

The Only Way is Essex star was man of the match as England beat the Rest of the World in last night's Soccer Aid charity match at Manchester United#s Old Trafford stadium.

TV pundit Chris Kamara said, perhaps slightly tongue in cheek, that the Towie heart-throb had been so impressive in training that Sam Allardyce would "consider" signing him for Sunderland.

Wright had spells with several London clubs as a youth, before playing at semi-professional level, and he showed he hasn't lost his touch by scoring the best goal of the fundraising pro-celeb match with a 25-yard free-kick.

Prompted by the Sunderland Echo's dedicated Sunderland AFC Twitter account, @sunechosafc, over whether he fancied a move to Sunderland, he replied: "I wouldn't mind, let's just say that much!!"

Fans entered into the spirit of things too, with Dorothy Forster of Houghton-le-Spring replying: "The game just changed. SoL will need prosecco on draft. Terrace full of women."