Big Sam Allardyce puts his big foot in it over Michael Owen injuries..

Big Sam Allardyce is a man who knows his stats, when he went along for his interview for the England manager's job, word has it that he took along four laptops to show that he is man who isn't afraid of using technology alongside traditional coaching methods in bid to get the very best out of his players. We are told that Big Sam and his backroom team leave nothing to chance when it comes studying the opposition in the search for any perceived weakness.

At the weekend Sky Sports were given a guided tour of Sam's new club Newcastle United. We the viewers were shown the revamped gym. Before the big man and his backroom team arrived it wasn't a nice place apparently. Allardyce is proud of his record of keeping players fit, while at his former club Bolton his players only missed on average 2.6 games per season through injury. At Newcastle last season the average time out through injury was nearly eight games a season.

Sky's reporter asked Sam if he'd been in charge of Michael Owen for longer would he have kept him more injury free? Sam replied, that with no disrespect to anyone else, 'yes he would'. Low and behold the following game Owen picks up a serious injury. Perhaps Sam will think twice before tempting fate next time.

Brazilian striker Alfonso Alves linked to United.....

So here we go on the summer transfer speculation merrygoround and for the remainder of the summer the Red's will be linked to just about every half decent striker going.

One name who hasn't as far as I'm aware been linked previously is prolific goal scorer Brazilian Alfonso Alves who plays for SC Heerenveen, this season the 25 year-old bagged 34 goals from just 31 games. His previous clubs include Malmo FF and another Swedish side, Orgryte IS.

Alves has been linked to Chelsea and it remains to be seen whether or not Fergie will press home his reported interest in the player. A lot will depend on what money is available to spend.

The Brazilian joins an ever growing list of potential summer sigings which includes the following names: Michael Owen, Jermain Defoe, Mark Viduka, Darren Bent, Fernando Tores, Samuel Eto'o, Jan Huntelaar and Dimitar Berbatov.

My personal verdict on this latest transfer link is: Possible.