Sam Allardyce insists he would 'absolutely' be challenging for the TREBLE if he was Man City boss

Sam Allardyce claimed that he would 'absolutely' be able to challenge for a historic treble with Manchester City if he was to take the reins at the Etihad.

The newly-appointed Leeds boss will face Pep Guardiola's side in the midst of a formidable run that has seen them win their last 15 games.

By contrast, Allardyce's recruitment comes with the express hopes that the relegation specialist – who has only been relegated once during his storied coaching career – will save the Yorkshire club from playing in the Championship next season.

The club's hierarchy sacked Javi Gracia on Monday with just four games to go until the end of the season.

Leeds are currently hovering above the relegation places by the virtue of a stronger goal difference than Nottingham Forest in 18th.

But whilst Allardyce's confidence with which he insisted he could takeover from Guardiola and coach City as they continue to challenge on three fronts at first feels disarming, the former Bolton Wanderers manager said that it was largely down to the strength of City's squad.

'Absolutely,' Allardyce said when asked about whether he could fight for a treble with the Manchester club. 'Because the players make you a really good manager and a good coach and your job is to be able to communicate with those players, of course.

'We all have our own pressures but to deal with high quality players that they have is a dream come true for you as a coach.'

Although the English coach has burnished his reputation by dodging the drop with Bolton, Sunderland, Crystal Palace, and Blackburn, Allardyce has never won a top-flight trophy during his 32-year managerial career.

By contrast, Guardiola is the one of the most decorated manager to have worked in the Premier League, the 32 trophies won coming second only to Sir Alex Ferguson's eye-popping 48 trophies.

But City has undoubtedly one of the most talented squads assembled in the league's history.

Guardiola's targetman, Erling Haaland, broke the Premier League record for most goals scored in a single season when City faced West Ham on Wednesday evening and his formidable form has turbo-charged the club's title chase in recent months.

Beyond the Norwegian behemoth, City have a staggering amount of both quality and depth in their squad, sharpening the threat that they might match the peerless achievement of the crosstown rivals Manchester United's 1998/99 season.

Ahead of facing Allardyce's Leeds on Saturday, Guardiola said that all of his players were 'ready' thanks to the tireless work of his backroom staff, but hinted that he might rotate players due to tiredness amidst a cluttered fixture list.

'I saw the team was really tired after the demands against Fulham and West Ham were so big,' Guardiola said on Friday. 'It's a lot of games.'