‘Shocked’ - Sam Allardyce’s first words as Leeds United boss as he namechecks Newcastle & West Ham

Former Bolton Wanderers, Newcastle United, Blackburn Rovers, West Ham United, Sunderland, Crystal Palace, Everton, West Bromwich Albion and England manager Sam Allardyce has been appointed as Javi Gracia’s replacement at Leeds.

It’s Leeds’ third manager of the season as they currently sit 17th in the Premier League table with only goal difference keeping them out of the relegation zone with four games remaining.

On Wednesday morning, Allardyce arrived at Leeds’ Thorp Arch training ground ahead of being officially announced as Leeds boss until the end of the season. Allardyce will be assisted by former MK Dons, Charlton Athletic and Oxford United manager Karl Robinson.

Following his arrival at Leeds, Allardyce told talkSPORT: “I’m stood here in my office overlooking the training ground, the fabulous facilities here at Leeds, excited to be involved again.

“Obviously there’s a tingle that runs through your veins when you take over a football club.

“I know it’s in a lot of trouble. I’ve seen a lot of trouble before and hopefully – I could have done a little bit more time, but four games – hopefully we can make a difference and keep this fabulous club in the Premier League.”

He continued: “[I was] shocked, I never thought at this, at this stage of the season, there would be jobs offered.

“When the phone popped up with a name that I knew pretty well, I knew who it was straight away. So it took me about two seconds to say yes.

“Karl Robinson [joins]. And hopefully following will be another member of staff, maybe a bit more. We don’t know yet, but certainly Karl at this moment in time.

“I think that obviously they’re very difficult games, Man City, Newcastle, West Ham and Spurs.

“You can all point out where the easiest fixture might be and of course, there are no easy fixtures in the Premier League, but we can only go and do what we can try and achieve.

“That certainly, from my point of view, means to see the lads stopping the goals going in.

“I think we’ve conceded 28 goals in the last 10 or 12 games, and the first thing that we’re going to have to do is to stop that if we’re gonna get out of trouble, because it means that we’re needing to score two and three goals every game to try and win it and if we’re left to do that, that would be nearly an impossible task.

“I’m doing all I can with the staff who are most important in the support they’re going to give to try and get the players out of trouble.”

Allardyce will have four matches to keep Leeds in the Premier League for a fourth successive season, but the fixture list isn’t too kind. First up is a trip to Manchester City before hosting Eddie Howe’s Newcastle at Elland Road the following week.

Leeds then travel to West Ham United in their penultimate match before ending the season against Tottenham Hotspur on May 28.

Despite managing several teams who have been relegated from the Premier League, Allardyce didn’t have a relegation on his CV before he decided to try and rescue West Brom during the 2020-21 campaign.