Sam Allardyce managed to complete the “things the new England manager must say in his opening press conference” list yesterday, discussing topics from the style of football he will employ to calling for a Premier League winter break.

Allardyce was installed in the hot seat last Friday, replacing Roy Hodgson after England’s embarrassing exit to Iceland at the European Championships.

Supporters of the national team were bemused to the say the least when Allardyce emerged as the favourite to take over the national team. But his feelings towards a winter break will go some way to winning the sceptics on side.