Can Dick Advocaat save Sunderland after Serbia struggles?

Notoriously outspoken during his time with Rangers, this opportunity to take on an English top-flight side does come late in his coaching career.

“Sunderland is a big club and I am very much looking forward to the challenge ahead,” Advocaat said upon his appointment. “We must now concentrate on Saturday as a priority.”

That’s an away game at West Ham, where out of contract boss Sam Allardyce may be a longer term target for the Black Cats. Odds of 10/3 say Advocaat can have an immediate impact, and steer his new side to victory at Upton Park.

During the Easter weekend, Advocaat will get an almost immediate taste of the Tyne-Wear derby in what will be his first home game in charge. Whatever Mackems think of Poyet, he won all three of his matches against bitter rivals Newcastle United, and Sunderland now need a similar story to save themselves.

Much has been made of Advocaat’s predecessor making veiling swipes about Black Cats recruitment. Pundits and commentators followed that en masse with unequivocal assertions that the winter window swap of American flop Jozy Altidore for proven Premier League performer Jermain Defoe was a coup, but it’s about ensuring the right service goes into the diminutive ex-England frontman.

Emanuele Giaccherini’s absence through injury and Adam Johnson being unavailable because of off-field allegations leaves Sunderland with little natural width. A midfield diamond may make them tough to break down, and leave that shaky defence with proper protection.

Advocaat also has to consider who to pair Defoe with in attack. Danny Graham has laboured up there with no end product in recent matches, so it looks to be a straight choice between injury-prone Scotland frontman Steven Fletcher or Connor Wickham.

This time last term when Poyet pulled of a great escape with the Black Cats, it was the latter who stepped up. Wickham and Defoe is like that classic big man/little man partnership that evokes Mackems memories of Niall Quinn and Kevin Phillips.

It’s no coincidence when they started up front together in a home game with Burnley that both scored, which was the last Premier League victory Sunderland savoured. If Advocaat can get some more wins, then the odds-on 1/2 price for them to stay up shall be justified.