Sunderland manager Sam Allardyce has confirmed plans to take his squad on holiday to Dubai for a week in February.

The Black Cats currently find themselves in 19th place in the Premier League table and have a hectic festive schedule to come, but Allardyce believes that five days in the UAE will lead to improved performances during the run-in.

"My teams have had breaks for the last 14 years, in Dubai, for five or six days in February," Allardyce told The Mirror. "The stats tell you that over those last period of games over 14 years, Bolton, Blackburn, West Ham have improved their physical output just by five days' break."

Explaining what he and his players would do during that period, Allardyce added: "We don't train, we tick over, we relax, we get away from football and get a bit of sun.

"The lads are physically and mentally drained from the Christmas period. We just get them relaxed, switch them off, don't have to worry about football. Just relax and come back and get ready for the big push at the end of the season."

Allardyce, who replaced Dick Advocaat at the Stadium of Light in October, boasts the distinction of never being relegated from the Premier League.