Sam Allardyce reveals El Hadji Diouf tried a ‘Stephen Ireland’ to wangle a day off

Sunderland youngster Duncan Watmore was allowed a day off on Thursday as he collected his first-class honours degree in economics from Newcastle University.

Sam Allardyce expressed his pride in the 21-year-old's achievement, and said he had no qualms about Watmore missing training for such a significant occasion. The Black Cats boss also told the Daily Mail that it wasn't the most unusual request to have a day off he's ever heard - with that honour going to El Hadji Diouf. The Senegal forward played for Allardyce at both Bolton and Blackburn, and the manager revealed: "He was the strangest one because his gran died twice! "He'd do anything or say anything to get a day off. "The problem for Dioufy was that he forgot she had already died once when he mentioned it the second time!

"If Dioufy didn't have to do exercise, I am sure she would never have died at all!"

It doesn't really come as a surprise...