Do we give him time?

Midfielder Nicky Butt has urged our club's owner to give Sam Allardyce time to complete the job he has in mind.

Allardyce's future at St James' Park is in the balance after a disappointing results where we had three successive defeats over Christmas.

Losing in the FA Cup to Stoke on Sunday will not be great but former Man United ace Butt believes Allardyce can turn it around if Mike Ashley shows patience.

"Things will never improve unless he's given time," Butt said. "This club of all clubs can show you that. I've been here for three-and-a-half years now and I've had four managers.

"Sooner or later someone has got to say this is the manager we're going to stand by, in good times and bad times, and hopefully get the rewards at the end of it.

"If you look at all the big teams, like (Manchester) United and Arsenal, they're the clubs that have stood by managers for a long time. If we do that, I'm sure we'll do it right."

Allardyce is trying to strengthen his squad during the transfer window and reports in the Manchester Evening News suggest he has made a bid for United defender Wes Brown.

The England international is out of contract at the end of the season and United could be tempted to cash in on him now.